Library of Congress Designation of Kosmos 63S1, Kosmos 63S1M, and Kosmos 11K63 orbital launch vehicles.
B-1A.
Mach 2 rocket launch aircraft. Loaded/empty mass 159,637/81,587 kg. Thrust 302.40 kN. Specific impulse 1980 seconds. N. American Bomber-variable geometry. Maximum release conditions: Bomb bay mounted, 16,364 kg (9.4 m length x 2.5 m diameter x 2.5 m span) at 2,096 kph at 11,900 m altitude.
B-29.
Alternate Designation of Banshee intercontinental cruise missile.
B-2C.
Rocketdyne Lox/Kerosene rocket engine. Atlas A. Launch thrust 1374 kN. Atlas Booster. Gas generator, pump-fed. Thrust and specific impulse values are at sea level. First flight 1958.
B-47.
Air/Kerosene rocket stage.
Air/Kerosene rocket stage.
B-58.
Mach 2 rocket carrier. Loaded/empty mass 72,563/25,197 kg. Thrust 183.23 kN. Specific impulse 2020 seconds. Convair Bomber-delta wing. Maximum release conditions: Belly mounted, 21,818 kg (22.5 m length x 1.9 m diameter x 7.1 m wingspan) at 2,130 kph at 12,195 m altitude (Kingfisher).
B-61A.
Alternate designation for Matador intermediate range cruise missile.
B-65.
Alternate designation for Atlas A test vehicle.
B-75.
Alternate designation for Thor intermediate range ballistic missile.
B-76.
Alternate designation for CGM-13B intermediate range cruise missile.
B-78.
Alternate designation for Jupiter intermediate range ballistic missile.
B-87.
Alternate designation for Skybolt air-to-surface missile.
Beal H2O2/Kerosene rocket engine. 14,100 kN. Development 1990's. Pressure-fed engine with composite ablative chamber and nozzle. Helium pressurant. Thrust declines to 70% of initial value before shutdown. Isp=259s.
BA-330.
Alternate designation for Nautilus manned space station module.
Beal H2O2/Kerosene rocket engine. 196 kN. Development 1990's. Pressure-fed restartable engine with composite ablative chamber and nozzle. Helium pressurant. Thrust declines to 50% of initial value before shutdown. Isp=300s.
Beal H2O2/Kerosene rocket engine. 3600 kN. Development 1990's. Pressure-fed engine with composite ablative chamber and nozzle. Helium pressurant. Thrust declines to 50% of initial value before shutdown. Isp=282s.
Babakin, Georgi Nikolayevich (1914-1971) Russian chief designer. Chief Designer of Lavochkin design bureau, 1965-1971.
Baberdin, Valeri Vasiliyevich (1948-2003) Russian journalist cosmonaut, 1990-1992.
Babiak, Martin (1959-) Slovak pilot cosmonaut, 1998-1999. As of January 2001 Babiak was a Colonel of the Slovak Air Force, studying at the Air War College in Alabama, USA.
Babiychuk, Aleksandr Nikolayevich Russian officer. Chief, Biomedical Service, of Air Force in early 1960's. Oversaw the early Vostok missions.
Babkin, Andrei Nikolayevich (1969-) Russian engineer cosmonaut, 2010-on.
Baby Babylon.
Alternate designation for Babylon Gun gun-launched orbital launch vehicle.
From March of 1988 until the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Iraq contracted with Gerard Bull to build three superguns: two full sized 'Project Babylon' 1000 mm guns and one 'Baby Babylon' 350 mm prototype. Nine tonnes of special supergun propellant could fire a 600 kg projectile over a range of 1,000 kilometres, or a 2,000 kg rocket-assisted projectile. The 2,000 kg projectile would place a net payload of about 200 kg into orbit at a cost of $ 600 per kg. The 1000 mm guns were never completed. After the war UN teams destroyed the guns and gun components in Iraqi possession.
BAC.
British Aircraft Corporation, UK.
Bachem, Dipl-Ing Erich (1906-1960) German sailplane designer, co-designer of the Fiesler Fi-156 Storch, with von Braun of the Fi-166 rocket fighter. Founded own company in 1942 and developed Natter rocket interceptor. Post-war co-designer of the popular Hymer camper.
Bachmann German rocket engineer in WW2. Later worked in France at LRBA as head of the internal instrumentation group of the flight mechanics and control department from 1947-1952.
Bachurin, Ivan Ivanovich (1942-) Russian test pilot cosmonaut, 1979-1992.
Badgley, Peter (1925-) American scientist. NASA Chief of the Earth Resources Survey Program and Chief of Advanced Missions, Manned Space Science Program, in the 1960's.
Badr.
Pakistani communications technology satellite. 3 launches, 1990.07.16 (Badr-A) to 2008.07.07 (Badr B). Pakistani experimental series with a variety of payloads.
Egyptian intermediate range ballistic missile.
BAe.
British Aerospace
Bagian, Dr James Philip 'Jim' (1952-) American physician mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-29, STS-40.
Bahamas
American manufacturer. BAI Aerosystems, USA.
Russia's largest cosmodrome, the only one used for manned launches and with facilities for the larger Proton, N1, and Energia launch vehicles. The spaceport ended up on foreign soil after the break-up of Soviet Union. The official designations NIIP-5 and GIK-5 are used in official Soviet histories. It was also universally referred to as Tyuratam by both Soviet military staff and engineers, and the US intelligence agencies. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union the Russian Federation has insisted on continued use of the old Soviet 'public' name of Baikonur. In its Kazakh (Kazak) version this is rendered Baykonur.
Jubilee Airfield
Krainiy Airfield
R-7 launch complex.
R-36M launch complex.
R-36M launch complex.
R-36M launch complex.
R-36M launch complex.
R-36M launch complex.
R-36M launch complex.
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
R-36M launch complex.
N1, Energia launch complex.
N1 launch complex.
UR-100 launch complex.
UR-100N, UR-100 launch complex.
UR-100N launch complex.
Missile launcher
Tsiklon, R-36M launch complex.
Missile launcher
Tsiklon launch complex.
Missile launcher
Tsiklon launch complex.
Tsiklon launch complex.
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
MR-UR-100 launch complex.
Orbital launch vehicle launcher
MR-UR-100 launch complex.
MR-UR-100 launch complex.
Orbital launch vehicle launcher
UR-100N launch complex.
UR-100N launch complex.
Orbital launch vehicle launcher
MR-UR-100 launch complex.
Orbital launch vehicle launcher
MR-UR-100 launch complex.
Tsiklon launch complex.
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
Proton, Ariane 5 launch complex.
Proton launch complex.
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
Energia launch complex.
R-7 launch complex.
Baikonur LC39/200
R-16, Kosmos 3 launch complex.
R-16 launch complex.
R-16 launch complex.
Baikonur LC45
Zenit launch complex.
Zenit launch complex.
R-9 launch complex.
R-16 launch complex.
R-16 launch complex.
R-16 launch complex.
Tsiklon, R-36M, MR-UR-100 launch complex.
Tsiklon launch complex.
Missile launcher
Missile launcher
R-9 launch complex.
Missile launcher
Tsiklon launch complex.
Proton launch complex.
Proton launch complex.
UR-200, Tsiklon launch complex.
UR-200, Tsiklon launch complex.
Buran runway
Tsiklon launch complex.
Tsiklon launch complex.
Tsiklon launch complex.
Bailey, Palmer Kent (1947-) American geologist payload specialist astronaut, 1990-1992.
BAJ.
BAJ.
Baker, Ellen Louise Shulman (1953-) Jewish-American physician mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-34, STS-50, STS-71. Physician.
Baker, Michael Allen 'Mike' (1953-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-43, STS-52, STS-68, STS-81.
Bakhchivangi, Grigori Yakovlevich (1908-1943) Russian test pilot, 1935-1943. Set 1943 world speed record in BI-1 rocketplane, but killed when it crashed.
Russian pressure suit, operational 1970. The Baklan full-pressure suit was developed by Zvezda for the crew of high altitude strategic aviation aircraft..
Baklanov, Oleg Dmitriyevich (1932-) Russian politician. Minister of General Machine Building 1983-1988.
BAL.
Bristol Aerospace Limited
Balandin, Aleksandr Nikolayevich (1953-) Russian engineer cosmonaut. Civilian Engineer, Energia NPO. Flew on Mir EO-6. Left cosmonaut corps for medical reasons and returned to NPO Energia until departing in 1994. Then President of Lendint-Association until 2000.
Indian military testing range, known to have been used for at least 489 launches from 1979 to 2008, reaching up to 1000 kilometers altitude.
Prithvi launch complex.
Prithvi, Agni launch complex.
Tactical launcher
Interim Test Range
Ball.
Ball, Erich K A (1901-1990) German engineer in WW2, member of the Rocket Team in the United States thereafter.
Ball.
American manufacturer of spacecraft. Ball Aerospace and Technology, Boulder, Colorado, USA.
Ball Space Systems.
First Owner of Ball
Category of missiles.
Ballistisches Enistufiges Traeger-Aggregat I.
Alternate designation for Beta ssto vtovl orbital launch vehicle.
Ballistisches Enistufiges Traeger-Aggregat II.
Alternate designation for Beta II ssto vtovl orbital launch vehicle.
Ballistisches Enistufiges Traeger-Aggregat III.
Alternate designation for Beta III ssto vtovl orbital launch vehicle.
Ballistisches Enistufiges Traeger-Aggregat IV.
Alternate designation for Beta IV ssto vtovl orbital launch vehicle.
Category of spacecraft.
Category of launch vehicles.
Balloon parachute
The visible line spectrum emitted by hydrogen. The wavelengths of the lines form a series, the formula of which was established by Balmer ( 1885 ).
Balmont, Boris Vladimirovich (1927-) Russian politician. First Deputy Minister of General Machine Building 1976-1981. Chief of Chief Directorate of Ministry of General Machine Building 1965-1973.
American military anti-ballistic missile satellite. Cancelled 1963. BAllistic Missile Boost Intercept ABM system, cancelled May 1963.
Chinese technology satellite. One launch, 2008.09.25, BX-1. BanXing (companion satellite) subsatellite released by Shenzhou. If maneuvered away and back to the Shenzhou orbital module after the mission.
A wave filter that has a single transmission band extending from a lower cutoff frequency greater than zero to a finite upper cutoff frequency.
American intercontinental cruise missile. Cruise missile version of B-29 bomber
Bristol solid rocket engine.
Bristol solid rocket engine.
Bristol solid rocket engine.
Bristol solid rocket engine.
Russian surface-to-air missile. First Soviet anti-aircraft barrage rocket, fired in limited numbers during siege of Leningrad, and downing two German aircraft.
Sounding rocket launch site located on island in the Caribbean. It was also from here that Gerard Bull tested his Martlet series of gun-launched sounding rockets. Known to have been used for 40 launches from 1963 to 1968, reaching up to 150 kilometers altitude.
Barbados became involved as a bridgehead to space as the site for Gerald Bull's development of gun-boosted sounding rocket and satelite launchers in the 1960's. The facilities and modified artillery pieces he built still stand today, rusting, their original purpose a mystery to local residents.
Martlet, 7 inch HARP Gun launch complex. HARP 40-cm Gun, Seawell
Barbados HARP 16 inch gun
Barbados HARP 5 inch gun
American heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle. Proposed launch vehicle for large SDI 'Star Wars' payloads. Expected to cost $ 400-500 million, the Barbarian could place the Zenith-Star chemical laser into low earth orbit. It would consist of 3 Shuttle SRM's, attached around a ring of six Delta RS-27 first stage boosters, which in turn clustered around a single Delta first stage booster that was the last stage of the launch vehicle.
American heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle. The Zenith Star space-based chemical laser missile defence weapon required a launch vehicle capable of placing a 45,000 kg payload into low earth orbit. Martin and Aerojet turned to their work 20 years earlier on advanced Titans for the MOL program. These earlier studies were combined with new concepts for tank construction and materials. The Martin Barbarian was a 4.57 m diameter Titan vehicle (instead of the customary 3.05 m) with four LR-87 engines on the first stage, and a single LR-87 engine on the second stage.
N2O4/Aerozine-50 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 400,000/25,000 kg. Thrust 6,080.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 302 seconds. All values roughly estimated based on number of engines and diameter given.
N2O4/Aerozine-50 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 80,000/6,000 kg. Thrust 1,214.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 302 seconds. All values roughly estimated based on number of engines and diameter given.
Barclay, John A (1909-1983) American officer. Commander of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency from 1958
Barents Sea
Submarine-launched ballistic missile launch area known to have been used for 119 launches from 1965 to 2007, reaching up to 1270 kilometers altitude.
Military missile test and sounding rocket launch site. In use from 1962 to present. Sandia National Laboratories operates the Kauai Test Facility for the Department of Energy and, through inter-Service Support Agreements provides the Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range Facility with rocket launch services for target systems and upper atmosphere measurements. PMRF/KTF is recognized in the INF Treaty as an authorized site from which launches of the STARS missile can be conducted. The site was recently involved in anti-ballistic missile tests. Known to have been used for 2320 launches from 1962 to 2007, reaching up to 1000 kilometers altitude.
Terrier launch complex. MRL 7.5K, Kokole Point Launch Site
Strypi, Aries launch complex. Pad 1
Tomahawk Sandia launch complex. Launcher 10
Tomahawk Sandia, Sandhawk launch complex. Launcher 12
Tomahawk Sandia, Sandhawk launch complex. Launcher 14
Sandhawk launch complex. Launcher 19
Polaris launch complex. PMR Pad
SR19 launch area. Air Launch Zone
Standard-ER launch complex. Pacific Ocean launch area, off Kauai
Barkowski, Werner German expert in production of A-4 and V-1 missiles during World War II. As of January 1947, living at Berlin.
Barmin, Vladimir Pavlovich (1909-1993) Russian chief designer. Chief Designer 1941-1993 of GSKB SpetsMash; pre-eminent Soviet designer of rocket launch complexes.
Russian manufacturer of spacecraft. Barmin Design Bureau, Russia.
Barmin, Igor Vladimirovich Russian engineer. Head and Chief Designer of the Barmin KBOM after the death of his father in 1993. Designed mobile and fixed launchers for missiles and space boosters.
Barminograd.
Alternate designation for DLB Lunar Base manned lunar base.
Headquarters of an RVSN Division, 1981-1990. Type of missiles deployed unknown.
Barnes, Richard JH American diplomat. Director of the International Affairs Division of the Office of External Relations at NASA in the 1980s. He had been a long-time NASA official, first coming to the agency in 1961 to work in international programs.
Barnes, Florence Lowe 'Pancho' (1901-1975) American pioneering aviatrix, from 1928 a barnstormer, air racer, Hollywood stunt flier; pioneered new air routes into Mexico. Opened a desert flying dude ranch in the 1930's, later a legendary watering hole for Edwards AFB test pilots.
Barratt, Michael Reed (1959-) American physician mission specialist astronaut, 2000-on.
Barre, Jean-Jacques (1901-1978) French rocket pioneer and space visionary, who developed the EA-1941 rocket in France before work was interrupted by WW2. His work continued after the war, but was eclipsed and finally replaced rockets based on German technology.
Barrett, Barbara McConnell (1950-) American space tourist, 2009-on.
Barry, Dr Daniel Thomas (1953-) American physician mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-72, STS-96, STS-105.
Sounding rocket launch location known to have been used for 3 launches in 1970, reaching up to 270 kilometers altitude.
Bartoe, Dr John David Francis (1944-) American astrophysicist payload specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-51-F.
Baryshev, Vladimir Mikhailovich (1913-1992) Russian engineer. Designer of automated check-out and launch systems. Deputy General Designer and Chief of Filial 2 of TsKB Mashinostroenniye.
BAS.
British Antarctic Survey, UK.
Sounding rocket launch location known to have been used for 1 launch in 1965, reaching up to 35 kilometers altitude.
Bassett, Charles Arthur II 'Charlie' (1931-1966) American test pilot astronaut, 1963-1966. Died in crash of T-38 trainer into the McDonnell Aircraft plant.
Batalli Cosmovici, Cristiano (1943-) Italian physicist payload specialist astronaut, 1989-1992.
Burst And Transient Source Experiment (on CGRO)
Baturin, Yuri Mikhailovich (1949-) Jewish-Russian engineer cosmonaut 1997-2009. Flew on Mir EP-4, ISS EP-1.
Baudry, Patrick Pierre Roger (1946-) French pilot cosmonaut, payload specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-51-G. Transferred to NASA Payload Specialist. Flight on STS-18, 1985. French Air Force Transferred to NASA as a Payload Specialist.
Baum, Werner (1918-) German engineer, member of Rocket Team in the Soviet Union after WW2. Worked on rocket engine development in Glushko's design bureau from 1947 to 1952 as Deputy of the Chief and Technical Designer; Dept. 61.
Bauschinger, Oscar (1911-1989) German engineer in WW2, member of the Rocket Team in the United States thereafter.
American manufacturer. Baxter, USA.
Submarine-launched ballistic missile launch area known to have been used for 4 launches from 1983 to 2005, reaching up to 800 kilometers altitude.
Bay of Biscay Launch Area CEL.
SLBM Launch Zone, Bay of Biscay, off Brittany
Bay of Biscay Launch Area ZLS.
SLBM Launch Zone, Bay of Biscay, off Brittany, off Biscarosse
Bayer, F German rocket technician; later worked in France as part of the armature group at LRBA from 1947 until retirement in 1985. Remained in Vernon.
BB7.
Bristol Aerospace solid rocket engine. 1 kN.
BBC.
British Broadcasting Corporation
Black Brant IVA, Black Brant VC sounding rockets
Broad-Band X-Ray Telescope (ASTRO package)
BD.
Booster development
BDB.
Big Dumb Booster
BE.
American earth magnetosphere satellite. One launch, 1964.03.19, Explorer (20). Also known as Explorer S-66.
BE-3.
WRE solid rocket engine family.
BE-3.
WRE solid rocket engine. 34 kN.
Hercules solid rocket engine. 34 kN.
American earth ionosphere satellite. 2 launches, 1964.10.10 (Explorer 22) to 1965.04.29 (Explorer 27). Early technology satellite. None reached orbit.
American technology satellite. 2 launches, 1958.10.23 (Beacon 1) and 1959.08.15 (Beacon 2).
Beacon Explorer.
Alternate designation for BE earth magnetosphere satellite.
Beal.
American manufacturer of rocket engines and rockets. Beal, USA.
American low cost orbital launch vehicle. The Beal Aerospace BA-2 was a privately-financed heavy-lift commercial launch vehicle that used innovative technical solutions to achieve low cost to orbit. It harkened back to the low-cost Truax Sea Dragon or TRW 'Big Dumb Booster' concepts of the 1960's but added several new twists. Beal abandoned the project at the end of 2000 after the collapse of the MEO satellite market and active measures by NASA to support other, competing, more high-tech projects by the major aerospace contractors.
H2O2/Kerosene propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 744,000/45,195 kg. Thrust 14,120.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 259 seconds. Thrust declines to 70% of initial value at shut down.
H2O2/Kerosene propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 189,000/14,560 kg. Thrust 3,599.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 282 seconds. Thrust declines to 50% of initial value at shut down.
H2O2/Kerosene propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 36,700/2,855 kg. Thrust 196.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 300 seconds. Thrust declines to 50% of initial value at shut down.
Titan I ICBM base. Beale was originally used as an army base in World War II. In 1959 it was selected as headquarters for the 851st Strategic Missile Squadron with nine Titan 1 missiles. Three complexes of three silos each were located 40 to 100 km west of the base. The missiles were emplaced in the silos between 28 February and 20 April 1962. However due to its poor reaction time the Titan 1's career was brief. Only three years later, by the end of April 1965, the squadron was deactivated, the missiles removed, and the silos abandoned.
Bean.
Bean, Alan LaVerne 'Al' (1932-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on Apollo 12, Skylab 3. Fourth person to walk on the moon.
American technology satellite. One launch, 1962.05.31. Suborbital.
Bechis, Kenneth Paul (1949-) American astrophysicist payload specialist astronaut, 1987-1990.
Beck.
Beck, Georg (1901-1943) German Professor. Dresden rocket engine scientist.
Beckman, Arnold O (1900-2004) American engineer, inventor and manufacturer of various analytical instruments.
Beduerftig, Hermann F (1903-1973) German engineer in WW2, member of the Rocket Team in the United States thereafter.
American manufacturer. Beechcraft, USA.
Beggs, James E (1926-) American engineer, served in various government and aerospace industry management positions. NASA Administrator 1981-1985.
Poem: Syr Dar'ya, ancient river that flows down to the Aral river that flows up to the sky....
Behnke (-1973) German rocket technician in WW2; later worked in France at LRBA from 1947 in the metrology group. Died in 1973.
Behnken, Robert Louis (1970-) American engineer mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-123, STS-130.
Behrens German flyer and engineer.
Bei Shizhang Chinese scientist. Bei Shizhang, Manager of the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Science, was one of three senior scientists that formulated the plans for China's first manned spacecraft in April 1966.
Beichel, Rudi (1913-1999) German-American engineer, on von Braun's team, but left to independently advise US Army on liquid propulsion. Joined Aerojet in 1956, worked on Lox/LH2 Titan I engine conversion, Aerojet large engine studies, and USAF ARES single-stage ICBM.
Chinese navigation satellite. Operational, first launch 2000.10.30. Beidou ('Big Dipper') was the satellite component of an independent Chinese satellite navigation and positioning system.
Beier, Anton (1906-1960) German engineer in WW2, member of the Rocket Team in the United States thereafter.
Chinese manufacturer of spacecraft. Beijing Department 11, Beijing, China.
Chinese manufacturer of rocket engines. Beijing Wan Yuan, Beijing, China.
Belarus
Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Elan + 1 x Aurore
French sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Elan + 1 x Aurore
Belgian AF.
Belgium
French sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Elan + 1 x Belisama
Family of sounding rockets, developed by Sud Aviation, with the only or upper stage being variants of the Belier stage powered by a Jericho rocket motor. These were the most significant series of French civilian suborbital rockets. Manufacturing licenses were sold to India and Pakistan, becoming the basis of their rocket industries.
Family of sounding rockets, developed by Sud Aviation, with the only or upper stage being variants of the Belier stage powered by a Jericho rocket motor. These were the most significant series of French civilian suborbital rockets. Manufacturing licenses were sold to India and Pakistan, becoming the basis of their rocket industries.
French sounding rocket. Basic Belier single stage vehicle, powered with a Jericho rocket motor loaded with 208 kg of 'Epictete' solid propellant with a specific impulse of 190 seconds.
French sounding rocket. Improved Belier single stage vehicle, loaded with 'Plastolite' propellant with a 205 second specific impulse.
Sud solid rocket engine. 20 kN.
French sounding rocket. Improved Belier single stage vehicle, using a Vega motor loaded with 230.5 kg of 'Isolane' propellant with a specific impulse of 240 seconds.
Solid rocket stage. 20.00 kN (4,496 lbf) thrust. Mass 300 kg (661 lb).
Bill Gerken's memoir of a 'space cadet' of an earlier generation...
Family of launch vehicles.
French sounding rocket.
CFTH-HB solid rocket engine. 24 kN.
Solid rocket stage. Mass 80 kg (176 lb).
Belize
Belka.
Launch System of RM-205 surface-to-air missile.
Bell.
American manufacturer of rockets, spacecraft, and rocket engines. ARC Liquid Propellant Division, Niagara Falls, NY, USA.
Bell Nitric acid/UDMH rocket engine family. Derived from an engine developed originally for the B-58 Hustler bomber's cancelled rocket pod, it was adapted for use with Lockheed's Agena upper stage for use with the deep black Corona spy satellite.
Bell Nitric acid/UDMH rocket engine. 68.9 kN. Out of production. Isp=276s. Used on Agena A, derived from Rascal engine. Regeneratively cooled; used drilled holes to create the same effect as more costly stacked spaghetti rubes. First flight 1959.
Bell Nitric acid/UDMH rocket engine. 71.2 kN. Out of production. Isp=285s. Used on Agena B stage atop Thor and Atlas. First flight 1960.
Bell Nitric acid/UDMH rocket engine. 71.2 kN. Out of production. Isp=292s. Used in Agena stage on top of Thor, Atlas, and Titan launch vehicles. First flight 1963.
Bell Nitric acid/UDMH rocket engine. 71.2 kN. Out of Production. Isp=291s. Version of Agena engine for the Gemini-Agena Target Vehicle. Minimum capability of five restarts and a demonstrated capability of fifteen restarts. First flight 1963.
Bell Aircraft.
First name of Atlantic Research
Bell Aircraft.
First name of Bell
Bell Hypersonic Rocket Transport 1960.
American manned rocketplane. Study 1960. In March 1960 Bell proposed a revised hypersonic transport design based on its work on boost-glide vehicles during the 1950's. There was no government or airline interest in the concept.
American manned spacecraft. Study 1958. Bell's preferred concept for the Air Force initial manned space project was the boost-glide vehicle they had been developing for the Dynasoar program.
American manned rocketplane. Study 1957. Proposed civilian transport version of Bomi rocket bomber. Bell was unable to interest any airlines in putting up the development funds for the project.
Bella, Ivan (1964-) Slovak pilot cosmonaut. Flew on Mir Stefanik. First Slovak astronaut.
American manufacturer of spacecraft. BellComm, USA.
Beloborodov, Valeri Mikhailovich (1939-2004) Russian pilot cosmonaut, 1967-1969.
Belokonyov, Alexis (-1962) Russian phantom cosmonaut, reported died in orbit 1962.05.15. Judica-Cordiglia reported radio trasnmission 1962.11. Named in 1959.10 Ogonyok article on high altitude equipment test. Basis for 1969 novel Autopsy for a Cosmonaut.
Headquarters of an RVSN Division, 1961-1991. In the 1950's it was the base for units deployed with four R-1 launchers, followed by two R-2 launchers, then 12 R-5. From 1961 it operated 12 R-14, and possibly additional R-12 missiles.
Belousov, Boris Nikolayevich (1930-1998) Belarusian engineer cosmonaut, 1965-1968.
Belt.
Belt, Michael Eugene (1957-) American photointerpreter payload specialist astronaut, 1988-1991.
Belyakov, Anatoli Mikhailovich (1923-1986) Russian officer. Colonel, served at Kaputsin Yar from April 1947, at Baikonur from 1957. Key person in integration of pioneering spacecraft, including the early Luna probes, Vostok, Voskhod, and Salyut. Authored over 170 papers.
Belyayev, Pavel Ivanovich (1925-1970) Russian pilot cosmonaut. Flew on Voskhod 2.
BEM.
Bug-Eyed Monster
Bender, Hans German Luftwaffe Me-163 test pilot and staff engineer..
Benderov, Vladimir Nikolayevich (1924-1973) Russian test pilot. Graduated from the Zhukovsky, 1950. Worked as an engineer and senior test pilot for Tupolev. Flew MiG-21 Tu-144 wing testbed. Proposed on 1964.06.29 as cosmonaut for Voskhod flights, but not confirmed. Died in the crash of a Tu-144 supersonic transport during an aviation demonstration at the 1973 Paris Airshow in Le Bourget.
American manufacturer of rockets and spacecraft. Bendix, USA.
American manned lunar rover. Study 1965. The Bendix ALSS Payloads lunar rover design of June 1965 had a range of 400 km with a crew of 2 on a 14 day traverse. A variety of configurations were studied in detail.
American manned lunar rover. Study 1965. The Bendix LSSM lunar rover design of October 1965 had 4 wheels. and a range of 400 km with a crew of 2 on a 14 day traverse.
American manned lunar rover. Study 1963. The Bendix Lunar Logistic System was a lunar rover design of January 1963. The vehicle had 4 wheels with alternative front or all-wheel steering and a range of 800 km with a crew of 3 on a 14 day traverse.
American manned lunar rover. Study 1961. The Bendix Manned Lunar Vehicle was a lunar rover design of November 1961. The vehicle had 4 wheels and a range of 400 km with a crew of 3 on a 14 day traverse.
American manned lunar rover. Study 1965. The Bendix Molab lunar rover design of June 1965 had 4 wheels and a range of 400 km with a crew of 2 on a 14 day traverse. The cabin had a volume of 12.8 cubic meters.
American lunar rover. Study 1964. The Bendix SLRV unmanned lunar rover design of April 1964 had a speed up to 25 kph on 4 tracks with floating pivot articulation. It was designed for a 105 day traverse mission.
Bennett, Rawson (1905-1967) American engineer. Chief of Naval Research from 1956 to 1961
European comet probe. need summary - see links
Beregovoi, Georgi Timofeyevich (1921-1995) Ukrainian pilot cosmonaut. Flew on Soyuz 3.
French sounding rocket. Berenice was Onera's successor to the Antares re-entry vehicle test booster. It was nearly double the mass of Antares.
Berenice was Onera's successor to the Antares re-entry vehicle test booster. It was nearly double the mass of Antares.
French orbital launch vehicle. In April 1963, ONERA proposed using a modified Berenice suborbtial test vehicle to place a small 3.5 kg satellite ('Satmos') into a 250 x 1800 km orbit. They claimed this booster could be ready in 1964, one year before Diamant. However the given the marginal growth potential of such a design, the government decided to stick with Diamant.
Solid rocket stage. 170.00 kN (38,218 lbf) thrust. Mass 1,900 kg (4,189 lb).
Solid rocket stage. 91.70 kN (20,615 lbf) thrust. Mass 1,050 kg (2,315 lb).
Solid rocket stage. 50.00 kN (11,240 lbf) thrust. Mass 280 kg (617 lb).
Bereznyak, Nikolai Ivanovich (1922-1991) Russian officer. Lieutenant-General, Chief of the Mozhaiskiy Military Engineering Academy, 1974-1977. Served in the rocket forces from 1961-1973. Retired 1977.
Russian manufacturer of spacecraft. Bereznyak Design Bureau, Russia.
Bereznyak, Aleksandr Yakovlevich (1912-1974) Soviet Chief designer. Soviet aircraft designer.
Berezovoi, Anatoli Nikolayevich (1942-) Russian pilot cosmonaut. Flew on Salyut 7 EO-1.
Bergeler, Herbert R (1907-1996) German-American expert in guided missiles during World War II. Worked his entire life with the rocket team, at Peenemuende, Fort Bliss, White Stands, and then at Huntsville. Died at Huntsville, Alabama.
Bergen, William (1915-1987) American Chief Designer. Oversaw the development of the Viking and Titan rockets at Martin. After the Apollo fire, hired by North American to get Apollo to the moon. Stayed on during design of the Space Shuttle and B-1 bomber.
American manufacturer of spacecraft. Berger, USA.
Beria, Lavrenti Pavlovich (1899-1953) Georgian-Russian officer. Soviet security apparatus chief until toppled after death of Stalin 1953. In charge of Soviet development of nuclear weapons and rocketry, 1944-1953.
Russian manufacturer of rockets. Beriev Design Bureau, Russia.
Sea-launched sounding rocket launch area known to have been used for 2 launches in 1950, reaching up to 80 kilometers altitude.
Berkner, Lloyd Viel (1905-1967) American engineer. Leading organiser of the International Geophysical Year in 1957-1958
Berkut.
Russian space suit, operational 1965. Berkut was a modified Vostok Sokol space suit. The needs of the cosmonaut were supplied not through the umbilical cord, but rather through a simple open-cycle environmental control system.
Bermuda
Bernkopf German rocket expert; later worked in France in the engine group at LRBA from 1947 until retiring in 1985. He remained in France, living in Vernon.
Headquarters of an RVSN Division, 1961-present. Base for units deployed with R-16 ICBM initially. Later 60 light ICBM (UR-100) silos operated, later supplemented by 9 RT-23 mobile ICBM launchers.
Beta.
German SSTO VTOVL orbital launch vehicle. In 1969 rocket pioneer Dietrich Koelle was working at MBB (Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm). There he sketched out a reusable VTOVL design called BETA using Bono's SASSTO as a starting point. The vehicle, taking European technology into account, was a bit heavier than Bono's design. But the thorough analysis showed even this design would be capable of delivering 2 tonnes of payload to orbit.
Beta.
Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 450,000/40,000 kg. Thrust 5,736.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 460 seconds.
German SSTO VTOVL orbital launch vehicle. Beta II was Dietrich Koelle's nominal 350 tonne lift-off mass SSTO design for launch of a 10 tonne European spaceplane.
German SSTO VTOVL orbital launch vehicle. In 1969 Dietrich Koelle proposed his BETA III design. This was to deliver 20 tonnes to orbit with a launch mass of 600 tonnes. In 1996 and 1998 he updated the design for use as an ISS resupply vehicle in place of the shuttle, and as a space tourism vehicle for 100 passengers.
German SSTO VTOVL orbital launch vehicle. Beta II was Dietrich Koelle's largest SSTO concept, with a nominal 2000 tonne lift-off mass SSTO design and 100 tonne payload.
Bethge, Friedrich Wilhelm German engineer at Peenemuende.
BeV.
Billion electron volts
Don Estabrook's contemporary account of operating the V-2 from White Sands.
American intermediate range cruise missile. Losing design in Sea-Launched Cruise Missile competition. Nuclear warhead version with warhead mass of 120 kg.
BGM-75.
Department of Defence Designation of AICBM intercontinental ballistic missile.
BGRV.
Alternate designation for Boost Glide Re-entry Vehicle re-entry vehicle technology satellite.
BH.
Black Hole
Indian manufacturer of rockets. Bharat, India.
Indian earth land resources satellite. 2 launches, 1979.06.07 (Bhaskara 1) and 1981.11.20 (Bhaskara 2). Experimental satellite for conducting earth resources survey over India.
Bhat.
Bhat, Nagapathi Chidambar (1948-) Indian engineer payload specialist astronaut, 1985-1986.
BI-1.
Russian manned rocketplane. Flown 1941. The Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1 was the first high speed rocket plane developed by the Soviet Union. Drawings were completed by spring 1941 but Stalin did not give the go-ahead for production until July 9, 1941.
Bibikov, Yakov Lvovich Russian officer. Director of NII-1 during German recovery operations 1945-1946.
BIC.
Barium-ion-cloud experiment
Big Dumb Booster.
Manufacturer's designation for LCLV low cost orbital launch vehicle.
American manned spacecraft. Reached mockup stage 1967.
American manned spacecraft module. Reached mockup stage 1967. Earth orbit maneuver and retrofire.
American manned spacecraft module. Reached mockup stage 1967. Space station resupply.
American manned spacecraft module. Reached mockup stage 1967. Crew and cargo return.
Russian manned spacecraft. Study 2018. This enlarged version of the Soyuz reentry vehicle shape was one alternative studied for the next-generation Russian launch vehicle.
Big Stick.
Alternate designation for SLAM intercontinental cruise missile.
American manufacturer of spacecraft. Bigelow, USA.
Bigen Island, Aur Atoll, Marshall Islands, was a sounding rocket launch location known to have been used for 2 launches in 1997, reaching up to 200 kilometers altitude.
Nuclear test site. Sounding rockets were launched from here to monitor blast and fallout of nuclear explosions. Bikini was known to have been used for 13 launches from 1956 to 1956, reaching up to 75 kilometers altitude.
Bikle, Paul F (1916-1991) American engineer. Worked at Wright Field and Edwards AFB from 1940. Director NASA Edwards 1959-1971. Oversaw projects from the XB-43 through the X-15 to the NASA lifting bodies.
Bilenko, Anton Petrovich (1924-1991) Russian engineer. General designer of satellite communications systems. Director of the Moscow Institute of Radio Communications 1977-1991.
Billig German rocket technician in WW2; later worked in France at LRBA from 1947 until retirement in 1974.
BIMA.
Berkeley Illinois Maryland Array
The continuous processing film used in the Lunar Orbiter photographic subsystem to process the camera film.
Malaysian agency. Binarian, Malaysia.
Binariang Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia, Malaysia
Binnie, William Brian American test pilot rocketplane pilot. Flew on SpaceShipOne Flight 17P.
Category of persons.
Apollo 17 medical experiment (using mice)
Category of persons.
Category of spacecraft.
Category of spacecraft.
Bion.
Russian biology satellite. 11 launches, 1973.10.31 (Cosmos 605) to 1996.12.24 (Bion No. 11). Bion was developed for biological studies of the effects of radiation.
BIOS.
Biological Investigation of Space (suborbital flight experiment); sometimes also used as short name for Biosatellite .
American biology satellite. 3 launches, 1966.12.14 (Biosatellite 1) to 1969.06.29 (Biosatellite 3). Biosatellite was a NASA spacecraft designed in the early 1960's to study the effects of the space environment on living organisms in missions.
American space suit, study of 2001. Novel approach that used biomedical breakthroughs in skin replacement and materials to replace the bulky conventional balloon spacesuit with a second skin approach.
Russian materials science satellite. Study 1992. In 1991 the Salyut Design Bureau proposed a satellite based on a derivative of the class of spacecraft which serve as the heavy add-on modules for the Mir space station, e.g., Kvant 2 and Kristal.
BIP.
Zero Defect Completion System (Russian abbreviation) - First Russian missile quality assurance system, 1953-1955.
BIRD.
German earth land resources satellite. One launch, 2001.10.22.
Bird.
Bird, Cory American Engineer. White Knight project engineer.
Sounding rocket launch site, known to have been used for 2 launches in 1963 and 1964, reaching up to 60 kilometers altitude. Co-located with radar site operated by University of Canterbury.
Headquarters of an RVSN Division, 1961-1964. Moved to Tatishchevo.. Base for units deployed with R-1, R-2, R-12, and R-14 missiles.
Biryukov, Gennadiy Pavlovich Russian engineer. From 1992 General Director and Chef Designer of KB TM Developed launch equipment and complexes for a range of missiles, including the R-36 heavy ICBM.
Biryuzov, Sergei Semenovich (1904-1964) Russian officer. Commander-in-Chief of RVSN 1962-1963.
BIS.
British manufacturer of rockets and spacecraft. British Interplanetary Society, UK.
The British Interplanetary Society (BIS) reusable booster concept of 1950 was a 3 stage, rocket, similar to Von Braun concepts of the time. The third stage was a winged vehicle which would use the skip-glide re-entry technique conceived by Saenger.
British manned lunar lander. Study 1939. Design of the British Interplanetary Society's BIS Spaceship began in 1937 and was published in January and July 1939.
British space suit, study of 1949. In 1947 R A Smith presented a series of papers to the British Interplanetary Society. This space suit was the concept for earth orbit work.
British manned space station. Study 1948. H. E. Ross proposed a manned satellite station in Earth orbit that would serve as an astronomical and zero-gravity and vacuum research laboratory.
In April 1962 France signed the final agreements with Algeria, requiring them to evacuate their rocket test ranged there by July 1967. Three months later a site on French soil on the Bay of Biscay, at Landes, near Biscarosse, was selected. The site would allow the testing of missiles over the Atlantic out to a range of 3000 km. This would put the RV impact area near the Azores, and a tracking station was opened in October 1966 on Flores island.
Base Espace
Base Experimentale Sol-Air
SSBS, MSBS launch complex. Base Lancement Balistique
Base Pluton
Base Scientifique
Black Brant launch complex. Probable launch from CEL (Site "CE" in Chesser's BAL list)
Pas de tir sud
Russian manufacturer of spacecraft. Bisnovat Design Bureau, Russia.
Bissell, Richard M (1909-1994) American CIA official who headed development of the U-2 and A-12 spy planes, and the first generation of spy satellites. Deputy Director for Plans at the time of the Bay of Pigs debacle, which resulted in his resignation.
CGM-13B Mace operating base.
Russian manned spaceplane. Study 1982. Bizan was the 1982 Soviet air-launched spaceplane design iteration between the '49' and 'MAKS' concepts. Like the '49', it was air-launched from atop an An-124 transport.
Russian air-launched orbital launch vehicle. Bizan was the 1982 Soviet air-launched spaceplane design iteration between the '49' and 'MAKS' concepts. Like the '49', it was air-launched from atop an An-124 transport. Unlike the '49', it was a single-stage-to-orbit tripropellant concept.
Russian air-launched orbital launch vehicle. Air launched from catamaran heavy-life aircraft, predecessor of later Gerakl / Molniya-1000 design. 900 tonnes takeoff mass. Release conditions: Suspended load, Mach 0.7 at 8 to 9 km altitude. Effective velocity gain compared to vertical launch 270 m/s.
BJMU.
German agency. Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universitaet, Wuerzburg, Germany.
BKS.
Combat Shock Space System (Russian abbreviation)
BKSA.
Malaysian agency. Bahagian Kajian Sains Angkasa, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
American manned spacecraft. Study 2004. X-Prize suborbital ballistic spacecraft concept of Armadillo Aerospace, Mesquite, Texas. Reached the stage of engineering tests by 2003.
British orbital launch vehicle. Britain's only indigenous launch vehicle. Following cancellation of the project in July 1971, one final launch was permitted, which successfully placed the Prospero satellite in orbit.
H2O2/Kerosene propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 14,104/1,070 kg. Thrust 234.82 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 265 seconds.
H2O2/Kerosene propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 3,537/535 kg. Thrust 68.23 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 265 seconds.
Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 397/87 kg. Thrust 29.40 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 278 seconds.
British solid rocket engine. 29.4 kN. Out of production. Isp=278s. Used on Black Arrow launch vehicle. First flight 1969.
The Black Brant originated in a 1957 Canadian government requirement for a sounding rocket to characterize the ionosphere in order to improve military communications. Bristol Aerospace of Winnipeg, Manitoba was selected to design the rocket, while the Canadian Armament Research and Development Establishment (CARDE) was responsible for the propellant and filling. The lighter production version of the vehicle was renamed Black Brant. Later versions of Black Brant used a variety of booster and upper stages to supplement the original single-stage vehicle.
The Black Brant originated in a 1957 Canadian government requirement for a sounding rocket to characterize the ionosphere in order to improve military communications. Bristol Aerospace of Winnipeg, Manitoba was selected to design the rocket, while the Canadian Armament Research and Development Establishment (CARDE) was responsible for the propellant and filling. The prototype was called the Propulsion Test Vehicle. It was a relatively heavy rocket, since it was designed to stand up to the use of a wide range of engine burning time, propellant loadings and launch angles associated with fuel development. The lighter production version of the vehicle was renamed Black Brant. Later versions of Black Brant used a variety of booster and upper stages to supplement the original single-stage vehicle.
Canadian sounding rocket. Single stage vehicle using the Black Brant VA.
Canadian sounding rocket. Three stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Terrier + 1 x Black Brant VB or VC + 1 x Nihka. Payload 90 kg to 1,200 km or 317 kg to 550 km.
Canadian sounding rocket.
Canadian sounding rocket.
Canadian sounding rocket. Three stage vehicle. Payload weights of 320 kg to 500 km or 550 kg to 350 km altitude.
Canadian sounding rocket. The Black Brant XII rocket system was a four stage system used primarily to carry a variety of payloads to high altitudes. Its development is a spin-off of the Black Brant X development. Four stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Talos + 1 x Taurus + 1 x Black Brant VB + 1 x Nihka. Payload 136 kg to 1,500 km or 522 kg to 500 km.
Canadian sounding rocket. Single stage vehicle.
Black Brant 2B.
Alternate designation for 23KS20000 rocket stage.
Canadian sounding rocket.
Canadian sounding rocket. Single stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Black Brant IIIA or IIIB.
Canadian sounding rocket.
Canadian sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Black Brant VA + 1 x Black Brant IIIA or IIIB.
Canadian sounding rocket.
Canadian sounding rocket.
Canadian sounding rocket. Single stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Black Brant VA, VB, or VC.
Canadian sounding rocket.
Canadian sounding rocket. Three-fin version. The Black Brant VB provided slightly improved performance over the VC. The burnout roll rate for the Black Brant V was 4 cycles per second. Maximum longitudinal acceleration varied with payload weight; for a typical payload weight of 270 kg, maximum thrust axis acceleration is approximately 12g's.
Black Brant 5C.
Alternate designation for 26KS20000 rocket stage.
Canadian sounding rocket. Four-fin version.
Canadian sounding rocket. Single stage vehicle.
Canadian sounding rocket. Single stage vehicle.
Canadian sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Nike booster + Black Brant VB or VC upper stage. Payload 136 kg to 430 km or 408 kg to 230 km.
Canadian sounding rocket.
Canadian sounding rocket.
Canadian sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Terrier Mk 70 + 1 x Black Brant VB.
Canadian sounding rocket.
Canadian sounding rocket.
Canadian sounding rocket.
Black Brant I.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 1 sounding rocket.
Black Brant II.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 2 sounding rocket.
Black Brant IIB.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 2B sounding rocket.
Black Brant III.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 3 sounding rocket.
Black Brant IIIB.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 3B sounding rocket.
Black Brant IVA.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 4A sounding rocket.
Black Brant IVB.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 4B sounding rocket.
Black Brant IX.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 9 sounding rocket.
Black Brant IXB.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 9B sounding rocket.
Black Brant VA.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 5A sounding rocket.
Black Brant VB.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 5B sounding rocket.
Black Brant VC.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 5C sounding rocket.
Black Brant VI.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 6 sounding rocket.
Black Brant VII.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 7 sounding rocket.
Solid rocket stage. 1.00 kN (225 lbf) thrust.
Black Brant X.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 10 sounding rocket.
Solid rocket stage. 257.50 kN (57,888 lbf) thrust. Mass 900 kg (1,984 lb).
Black Brant XB.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 10B sounding rocket.
Black Brant XI.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 11 sounding rocket.
Black Brant XII.
Alternate designation for Black Brant 12 sounding rocket.
Lox/Kerosene propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 40,482/8,283 kg. Thrust 402.05 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 353 seconds. Winged, first stage of a launch vehicle using aerial refueling and existing engines. Takes off from runway; rendezvous with tanker to load oxidizer; then flies to Mach 12/150 nm to release Star 48V second stage and 450 kg payload. 2 x F125 turbofans for flight to tanker, subsonic ferry, and go-around capability on return.
American air-launched orbital launch vehicle. Winged, first stage of a launch vehicle using aerial refueling and existing engines. Takes off from runway; rendezvous with tanker to load oxidizer; then flies to Mach 12/150 nm to release Star 48V second stage and 450 kg payload. In comparison to Black Horse, uses existing engines and a much more achievable mass fraction by only flying to half orbital speed.
American manned spaceplane. Study 1993. Winged, first stage of a launch vehicle using aerial refueling and existing engines.
American manned spaceplane. Study 1994. Winged, single stage to orbit launch vehicle using aerial refueling and lower performance, non-cryogenic propellants.
American air-launched winged orbital launch vehicle. Winged, single stage to orbit launch vehicle using aerial refueling and lower performance, non-cryogenic propellants. Takes off from runway at 22,000 kg gross weight; rendezvous with tanker to load 66,760 kg oxidizer; then flies to orbit.
H2O2/Kerosene propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 83,560/6,883 kg. Thrust 443.19 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 335 seconds. Winged, single stage to orbit launch vehicle using aerial refueling and lower performance, non-cryogenic propellants. Takes off from runway at 48,452 lbs gross weight; rendezvous with tanker to load 146,870 lbs oxidizer; then flies to orbit.
The Black Knight was a British test vehicle designed to test re-entry vehicles for the Blue Streak MRBM. It was subsequently used for a series of US-sponsored test of RV radar signatures.
The Black Knight was a British test vehicle designed to test re-entry vehicles for the Blue Streak MRBM. It was subsequently used for a series of US-sponsored test of RV radar signatures.
British test vehicle. Single stage vehicle.
British test vehicle. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Black Knight 201 + 1 x Cuckoo IB
British test vehicle. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Black Knight 201 + 1 x Cuckoo II
Solid rocket stage. 80.90 kN (18,187 lbf) thrust. Mass 200 kg (441 lb).
Solid rocket stage. 36.50 kN (8,206 lbf) thrust. Mass 200 kg (441 lb).
H2O2/Kerosene rocket stage. 75.00 kN (16,861 lbf) thrust. Mass 5,400 kg (11,905 lb).
British test vehicle. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Black Knight 301 + 1 x Cuckoo IB
British test vehicle. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Black Knight 301 + 1 x Cuckoo II
H2O2/Kerosene rocket stage. 75.00 kN (16,861 lbf) thrust. Mass 5,400 kg (11,905 lb).
Military testing range. Known to have been used for 80 launches from 1963 to 1970, reaching up to 250 kilometers altitude.
Black Powder Solid Propellants.
The detailed chemistry and development of black powder propellants by Andre Bedard.
Sounding rocket launch location known to have been used for 1 launch in 2004, reaching up to 116 kilometers altitude.
Naval military missile launch position known to have been used for 3 launches from 1960 to 1961.
Black Sparrow
American manned spaceplane. 2006 reports claimed it was flown covertly in the 1990s.
Blagonravov, Anatoli Arkadyevich (1894-1975) Russian scientist. President, Academy Artillery Sciences 1946-1950, leading development of first Soviet sounding rockets. Soviet representative to UN COPUOS and negotiator with NASA on cooperative space projects in early 1960's.
Blaha, John Elmer (1942-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-29, STS-33, STS-43, STS-58, Mir NASA-2. Flew 361 combat missions in Vietnam.
Blaik, Earl Henry 'Red' (1897-1989) American businessman. Vice president and director of Avco, 1959-60, then director and chairman of executive committee in 1960.
Blair, Clay D (1925-1998) American writer. Magazine correspondent and editor of Saturday Evening Post 1957-1964.
Blass, Josef (1901-) German engineer in WW2, member of the Rocket Team in the Soviet Union thereafter. Engineer and German specialist in the Soviet Union.
Blenck German expert in aircraft design during World War II. As of January 1947, working at LFA Braunschweig.
American short range ballistic missile. In production. Advanced TACtical Missile System, Fire Support , Deep Attack Field Artillery, 1000 bomblets
Block 11.
Alternate designation for LK-700 Block 11 manned spacecraft module.
Block 111.
Alternate designation for LK-700 Block 111 manned spacecraft module.
American short range ballistic missile. In production.
Block 1V.
Alternate designation for LK-700 Block 1V manned spacecraft module.
American short range ballistic missile. In development.
Russian space tug. 40 launches, (1967) to (1975). Upper stage / space tug - out of production. Launched by Proton. Block D, article number 11S824. Without guidance unit (navigation commands come from payload).
Russian space tug. 11 launches, (1976) to (1989). Upper stage / space tug - in production. Launched by Proton. Also known as Block D-1; article number 11S824M. Without guidance unit (navigation commands come from payload).
Russian space tug. 3 launches, (1988) to (1996). Upper stage / space tug - in production. Launched by . Also known as Block D-2; article number 11S824F. Without guidance unit (navigation commands come from payload).
Russian space tug. 66 launches, (1974) to (1990). Upper stage / space tug - out of production. Launched by Proton.
Russian space tug. 100 launches, (1982) to (2001). Upper stage / space tug - in production. Launched by Proton. Also known as Block DM-2 (different from commercial Block DM2 (no hyphen!)), article number 11S861.
Russian space tug. 35 launches, (1994) to (2002). Upper stage / space tug - in production. Launched by Proton.
Russian space tug. 6 launches, (1997) to (2002). Upper stage / space tug - in production. Launched by Proton. Also known as Block DM-5. With guidance unit, modification of 11S861 stage for heavier payloads and with different payload adapter.
Russian space tug. 27 launches, (1960) to (1970). Upper stage / space tug - out of production. Launched by Molniya.
Russian space tug. 288 launches, (1964) to (2002). Upper stage / space tug - in production. Launched by Molniya M.
Block V.
Alternate designation for LK-700 VA manned spacecraft module.
Blohm, Rudolf German Director of Blohm and Voss during World War II. As of January 1947, on American's list of persons of interest.
Lox/Kerosene rocket stage. 66.70 kN (14,995 lbf) thrust. Mass 6,200 kg (13,669 lb).
Bloka Skhoda s Orbiti.
Alternate designation for TKS BSO manned spacecraft module.
Blokhin, Yuri Dmitryevich Russian engineer. Head of Mikoyan KB space section. Worked on the Spiral spaceplane.
Blome, Kurt German expert in biological warfare during World War II. As of January 1947, released from Project Dustbin as per USPBT CIC, 1/10/45.
Family of launch vehicles.
British surface-to-air missile.
British surface-to-air missile.
British surface-to-air missile. 4 wrap-around spr, ramjet sustainer. Program ended.
Bloodhound Mk.1.
Manufacturer's designation for Bloodhound Mk. 1 surface-to-air missile.
American manufacturer of spacecraft. Bloom, USA.
Bloomfield, Michael John 'Bloomer' (1959-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-86, STS-97, STS-110. Grew up in Lake Fenton, Michigan.
Blue Origin was founded and funded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, founder of amazon.com. Commercial space passenger service would be conducted from a private spaceport at the 165,000-acre Corn Ranch, 40 kilometers north of Van Horn, west Texas. The launch point would be 8 kilometers west of Highway 54. The spaceport included a vehicle processing facility, a launch complex, vehicle landing and recovery area, an astronaut training facility, lodging, and other support facilities. The launch pad covered 3,000 square meters; the landing pad would be located 6.1 km north of it.
American manufacturer of spacecraft. Blue Origin, USA.
American suborbital launch vehicle. Air Force version of Scout used for suborbital tests.
American all-solid orbital launch vehicle. Air Force version of Scout used for suborbital and orbital military tests.
American strategic communications missile. USAF initial Emergency Rocket Communications System booster.
Blue Scout I.
Alternate designation for Blue Scout 1 suborbital launch vehicle.
Blue Scout II.
Alternate designation for Blue Scout 2 all-solid orbital launch vehicle.
American suborbital launch vehicle. Four stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Castor + 1 x Antares + 1 x Alcor + 1 x Cetus
American suborbital launch vehicle. Three stage version consisting of 1 x Castor + 1 x Antares + 1 x Alcor
American suborbital launch vehicle.
American suborbital launch vehicle.
American suborbital launch vehicle. Smaller Air Force version of Scout used for suborbital military tests.
British air-to-surface missile.
British intermediate range ballistic missile. Cancelled 1960
Blue Streak, ELDO-1.
Alternate designation for Europa-1 rocket stage.
British tactical ballistic missile. Cancelled 1962
American military target satellite. 2 launches, 1966.02.15 (Bluebell 2C (Cylinder)) and (Bluebell 2S (Sphere)). Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology.
Bluford, Dr Guion Steward Jr 'Guy' (1942-) African-American engineer mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-8, STS-61-A, STS-39, STS-53. First African-American in space. Flew 144 combat missions in Vietnam.
BMDO.
American agency overseeing development of spacecraft. Ballistic Missile Defence Organization (formerly SDIO), USA.
BMMD.
Body Mass Measurement Device.
BMO.
US Army Ballistic Missiles Office; or US Air Force Ballistic Missiles Office
BMW.
German manufacturer of rockets and spacecraft. BMW, Germany.
BMW and Ruhrstahl AG.
First Owner of BMW
BNAS.
Belarusian agency. Belarus Space Agency, Belarus.
BNSC.
British National Space Center, UK.
BO.
Living Module
Bobko, Karol Joseph 'Bo' (1937-) American pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-6, STS-51-D, STS-51-J.
Bode.
Bode, Hendrik W (1905-1982) American engineer, vice president of military development and systems engineering at Bell Telephone Laboratories 1958-1967. Worked for Bell from 1926 to 1967.
Bodenstein German rocket engineer in WW2; later worked in France at LRBA in the mechanics group in the automated control loop department 1947-1952.
Boe.
Boe, Eric Allen (1964-) American pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-126, STS-133.
Boehm, Josef Maria (1908-1973) Austrian-German engineer in WW2, member of the Rocket Team in the United States thereafter.
Boeing.
First name of Kent
Boeing.
Fourth name of Seal Beach
American manufacturer of rockets, spacecraft, and rocket engines. Boeing Aerospace, Seattle, USA.
Boeing (1997-2008).
Fourth Owner of Convair
Boeing Canoga Park.
Fifth Owner of Rocketdyne
American orbital launch vehicle. Boeing EELV as proposed in 1992.
Boeing Huntington Beach.
Third Owner of Douglas
American manned lunar rover. Study 1963. The Boeing Lunar Exploration Systems lunar rover design of November 1963 was for a multipurpose rover with a range of 480 km with a crew of 2 on a 8 day traverse. The cabin had a volume of 4.95 cubic meters.
American manned lunar rover. Study 1965. The Boeing LSSM lunar rover design of June 1965 had 4 wheels of 1.2 or 1.6 m diameter. and a range of 200 km with a crew of 2 on a 14 day traverse.
Boeing North American.
Third name of Seal Beach
Boeing North American.
Second name of North American
Boeing Palmdale.
Third Owner of North American
Boeing Reusable Space Systems.
Fourth Owner of North American
Boeing Rocketdyne (1996).
Fourth Owner of Rocketdyne
Boeing Satellite Systems.
Third Owner of El Segundo
American orbital launch vehicle. The Boeing SDV Class I vehicle would lead to the Shuttle-C, using the shuttle aft fuselage with SSME engines to power a cargo canister into orbit.
American SSTO VTOVL orbital launch vehicle. In 1977 Boeing produced a vehicle design for a 227 tonne payload vertical takeoff launch vehicle to be used to launch components for the huge Satellite Solar Power platforms that NASA was promoting at the time. The booster would launch from the edge of a water-filled man-made lagoon and recover in the lagoon and used a water-cooled heat shield for reentry.
Boeing, El Segundo (formerly Hughes), USA
Boeing Rocketdyne, Canoga Park, USA
Boeing Huntsville, USA
Boeing, Kent/Seattle, USA
Boeing North American (formerly Rockwell), USA
Boeing North American, Seal Beach (formerly Rockwell), USA
Boeing Sea Launch, Seattle, USA
Boenisch, Friedrich (1902-) German engineer in WW2, member of the Rocket Team in the Soviet Union, worked on rocket engine development in Glushko's design bureau from 1947 to 1952. Worked in Manufacturing; Dept. 61/Shop 55.
Boergemann German military instructor on the V-2 during World War II. As of January 1947, living at Landshut, Niedermayrstr. 55.
Boese German rocket engineer in WW2. Later worked in France at LRBA as head of the doppler tracking group of the flight mechanics and control department from 1947-1952.
Boesen, Dennis Lee 'Denny' (1942-) American engineer payload specialist astronaut, 1987-1990.
Boettcher, Friedrich German designer on the V-2 during World War II. As of January 1947, living at Gross-Wudicke b/Rathenow.
Swedish manufacturer. Bofors Missiles, Sweden.
Boggess, Nancy Weber American scientist. Worked at NASA on IRAS and COBE infrared satellites.
Bogomolov, Aleksei Fedorovich (1913-) Russian engineer. Chief Designer 1954-1988 of OKB MEI.
Bogomolov, Vladislav Nikolayevich (1919-1997) Russian chief designer. Chief Designer 1971-1985 of Isayev rocket engine design bureau. Succeeded Isayev after his death.
Boguslavskiy, Yevgeni Yakovlevich (1917-1969) Russian engineer. Deputy Chief Designer 1950-1969 of Ryazanskiy design bureau. Specialised in spacecraft guidance systems.
Bohlen, Charles E 'Chip' (1904-1974) American diplomat. Career foreign service officer.
Bohner, Otto (1913-) German Luftwaffe Me-163 test pilot. Captain, fighter pilot, test pilot on the Me-163 and Squadron Commander of 2./JG 400.
Bokov, Vsevolod Andreyevich (1921-) Russian officer. Major General, Chief of Directorate at GUKOS space forces 1970-1980.
Anti-ballistic missile, air-launched from a B-47 Stratojet, consisting of a Sergeant booster and an Altair upper stage.
American air-launched anti-ballistic missile. Dropped from B-47 medium bombers, the missile consisted of a Sergeant booster and Altair upper stage.
American anti-ballistic missile. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x B-47 Stratojet + 1 x Sergeant
American anti-ballistic missile. Three stage vehicle consisting of 1 x B-47 Stratojet + 1 x Sergeant + 1 x Altair
Bolden, Charles Frank Jr 'Charlie' (1946-) African-American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-61-C, STS-31, STS-45, STS-60.
Bolkhovitinov, Viktor Fedorovich (1889-1970) Russian engineer. Engineer at NII-1. Led early study of Soviet derivative of the Saenger-Bredt antipodal bomber. Soviet airplane technical designer.
Bollermann, Bruce I (1926-) American Chief Engineer of Space Data Corporation, developer of its sounding rockets, from 1963-1996. These included the Super Loki and Viper Dart.
Bolo.
Alternate Designation of SLAM intercontinental cruise missile.
Headquarters of an RVSN Division, 1961-present. Base for units deployed with R-16 ICBM, later 90 light ICBM (UR-100) silos. At the end of the UR-100's service life 47 of these continued in use with the MR-UR-100.
Bolshoi, Amos Aleksandrovich Russian officer. Department Chief of TsKIK. Led flight control teams for early missions.
Bomarc.
Popular Name of CIM-10A surface-to-air missile.
USAF Mach 3 ramjet surface-to-air missile; later converted to target missiles and launched from Vandenberg AFB.
Bomarc Mach 3 ramjet surface to air missile; the only surface-to-air missile ever deployed by the US Air Force. Its development in the 1950's played an important role in technological base for later missiles and launch vehicles.
Bomarc B.
Popular Name of CIM-10B surface-to-air missile.
Bombardier Aerospace.
Second Owner of Short Brothers
Bomi.
American manned combat spacecraft. Study 1952. Bell manned skip-glide space bomber project of the 1950's. Predecessor to Dynasoar.
Bondar, Roberta Lynn (1945-) Canadian physician payload specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-42. Neurologist. First Canadian female astronaut. IML-1 payload specialist.
Bondarenko, Valentin Vasilyevich (1937-1961) Ukrainian pilot cosmonaut, 1960-1961. Killed in a fire in a spacecraft simulator run using a a pure oxygen atmosphere. His death had a profound effect on future design of Soviet spacecraft.
Bondaryuk, Mikhail Makarovich (1908-1969) Russian chief designer. Chief Designer 1950-1969 of OKB-670. Specialised in ramjet engines, including the large systems designed for Burya and Buran.
Russian manufacturer of rocket engines. Bondaryuk Design Bureau, Russia.
Bonestell, Chesley (1888-1986) Renowned American architectural artist who achieved greater fame as the illustrator of von Braun's vision of human space exploration in the 1950's. His realistic paintings inspired a generation of engineers to make space travel a reality.
Bonnet, Roger M (1937-) French astronomer. Built first French space astronomy experiment, launched by Veronique 1967. Director of Stellar and Planetary Lab of CNRS 1969-1983. Director of the ESA Scientif Program, 1983-2001.
Bonney, Walter T (1909-1975) American journalist. Worked for NACA from 1949. NASA Director of Public Relations, 1958-1960. Avco Director of Public Relations 1960-1971.
American manned Mars expedition. Study 1960. In 1960 Philip Bono, then working at Boeing, proposed a single-launch Mars manned expedition. Bono's scenario was the classic trade-off of weight for risk.
American manned spaceplane. Study 1963. In 1963 Phil Bono of Douglas Aircraft considered a lenticular configuration for a single-stage-to-orbit reusable booster. This was the largest application found to date for the lenticular concept.
BONUM satellites provide domestic Russian television service for Media Most, a Moscow media enterprise.
Booen, Michael Warren (1957-) American engineer military spaceflight engineer astronaut, 1982-1987.
Intercontinental supersonic cruise missile. A follow-on to the Snark that was Northrop's competitor with the North American Navaho. Never reached development stage and no details available. Name obviously derived from the punchline of Lewis Carroll's poem: "...for the Snark was a Boojum, you see..."
Boone, Walter F American USN Officer. Walter F. Boone was an admiral, who after retiring from the Navy, became the NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Defense Affairs. He held this post until retiring from NASA in 1968.
American re-entry vehicle technology satellite. Study 1968. The Boost Glide Re-entry Vehicle investigated related technological problems, particularly hypersonic maneuvering after re-entry into the atmosphere.
American sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of a booster + 1 x Arcas second stage.
American sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x MARC 42A1 + 1 x Arcas
Solid rocket stage. 12.20 kN (2,743 lbf) thrust. Mass 30 kg (66 lb).
Solid rocket stage. 1.50 kN (337 lbf) thrust.
Solid rocket stage. 12.00 kN (2,698 lbf) thrust. Mass 16 kg (35 lb).
American sounding rocket. Single stage vehicle.
Booster Engine One.
Alternate designation for XLR43-NA-1 Lox-Alcohol rocket engine.
BOR.
Unpiloted Orbital Rocket-Glider (Russian abbreviation)
Russian manned spaceplane. 4 launches, 1982.06.04 (Cosmos 1374) to 1984.12.19 (Cosmos 1614). BOR-4 were subscale test versions of the Spiral manned spaceplanes.
Russian spaceplane. 2 launches, 1983.07.04 (BOR-5 Flight 1) and 1984.06.06 (BOR-5 Flight 6). The aerodynamic characteristics of Buran at hypersonic speeds were validated by the BOR-5 1:8 sub-scale model of Buran.
BORD 1.
Manufacturer's designation of P320 Lox-LH2 rocket engine.
A process of parallel alignment of the lines of sight of two instruments by an optical procedure.
Boris Chimp 504 (-1969) Russian phantom cosmonaut. Fictional lunar landing chimpanzee, subject of Dwayne Allen Day satire of Soviet space history research articles.
Borisenko, Mikahil Ivanovich (1917-1984) Russian designer of missile radio control systems, 1946-1975 developed radio control systems for R-1, R-2, R-5, and R-7 missiles and satellites at the Moscow Scientific Research Radio Technical Institute (MPSS). Director of MPSS 1975-1984.
Borisenko, Andrei Ivanovich (1964-) Russian engineer cosmonaut, 2003-on. Flew on ISS EO-27.
Borisyuk, Nikolai Andreyevich (1941-1984) Russian officer. Lieutenant General, First Deputy Commander of VKS space forces from 1993.
Borman, Frank Frederick II (1928-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on Gemini 7, Apollo 8. Member of first crew to rendezvous in space, and first to orbit the moon.
Bornscheuer German professor, rocket expert in WW2; later worked in France, heading the structures group at LRBA from 1946 to 1950. Returned to teach at the University of Stuttgart.
Borodai, Alexei Sergeyevich (1947-) Ukrainian test pilot cosmonaut, 1979-1993.
Borodin, Dr Aleksandr Viktorovich (1953-) Russian physician cosmonaut, 1978-1993. Civilian Physician, Institute of Medical Biological Problems. Cosmonaut training from October 1979 - July 1980. Worked again at IMBP.
Borodin, Sergei Aleksandrovich (1935-) Russian engineer. Chief Designer after 1975 of the Special OKB of the Gromov LII. Designed spacecraft simulators and cockpit consoles.
Borzenkova Russian engineer cosmonaut candidate, 1962. In March 1962 selected as cosmonaut, but the selection was not confirmed by the government commission.
BOSS.
Biomedical Orbiting Satellite System - USAF primate biosat
Bossart, Karel Jan 'Charlie' (1904-1975) Belgian-American Chief Designer of the Atlas rocket. Conceived many innovative features - balloon propellant tanks, common fuel/oxidizer bulkheads, jettisonable booster engines, separable nose cone, and gimballed engines.
Boston University Center for Space Physics.
Bottenhorn, Hermann German expert in rolling mill designer during World War II. As of January 1947, working at Wright Field, Ohio.
Bowen, Stephen Gerard (1964-) American engineer mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-126, STS-132, STS-133.
Bowers, Jack L 'John' (1920-2000) American engineer. Convair corporate officer in charge of Atlas development during the peak of its development phase.
Bowersox, Kenneth Duane 'Ken' (1956-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-50, STS-61, STS-73, STS-82, ISS EO-6.
Boyd.
Boyd, Albert (1906-1976) American test pilot, commanded Edwards AFB 1949-1951.
Boyle, Anthony Hugh (1941-) British-American engineer payload specialist astronaut, 1984-1984.
American pressure suit, tested 1966. Concept by Otto Schueller, patented by Davis, Moore, Ritzinger and Whitmore at USAFSAM.
BPD.
Italian manufacturer of rocket engines. BPD, Italy.
Redmond electric/xenon rocket engine. 120 mN. In Production. Hall effect thruster. Nominal power input 2200 W at 350 V. Isp=1765s.
Redmond electric/xenon rocket engine. 270 mN. In Production. Hall effect thruster. Nominal power input 4500 W at 350 V. Isp=1950s.
Redmond electric/xenon rocket engine. 0.030 kN. In Development, 2005-2006. Isp=1800s. Began as 1995 contract for 600kWe Hall thruster electric propulsion system designed for future interplanetary manned spacecraft.
BQ-1/BQ-2.
Department of Defence Designation of BQ-1-BQ-2 intermediate range cruise missile.
American intermediate range cruise missile. In March 1942, the USAAF initiated a program to develop radio-controlled assault drones, frequently called "aerial torpedoes" at that time. These aerial torpedoes were to be unmanned expendable aircraft (either purpose-built or converted from existing types), fitted with a large payload of high-explosive, remote-control equipment and a forward-looking TV camera. The drones were to be directed to the target by radio commands from a control aircraft, where the operator would "fly" the drone watching the video transmitted by the camera.
BQ-3.
American intermediate range cruise missile. In October 1942, Fairchild received a contract to build two XBQ-3 prototype unmanned assault drones based on the AT-21 Gunner twin-engined trainer design.
BQ-4.
Department of Defence Designation of BQ-4-TDR intermediate range cruise missile.
Early family of American unmanned remotely-controlled aircraft for use in combat.
BQ-7.
Department of Defence Designation of Aphrodite intermediate range cruise missile.
BQ-8.
American intermediate range cruise missile. In 1944 the USAAF intended to convert some worn-out Consolidated B-24D/J Liberator bombers to BQ-8 radio-controlled assault drones for use against heavily defended targets on Japanese islands in the Pacific. The concept was the same as used for the B-17 Flying Fortress conversions in the BQ-7 Aphrodite project.
American intermediate range cruise drone. Drone version.
Brackett, Ernest W (1909-1991) American bureaucrat. Director of NASA Procurement 1960-1968.
Brady, Charles Eldon Jr (1951-2006) American physician mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-78.
Brand, Vance DeVoe (1931-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on Apollo (ASTP), STS-5, STS-41-B, STS-35.
Brandenstein, Daniel Charles 'Dan' (1943-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-8, STS-51-G, STS-32, STS-49. Flew 192 combat missions in Vietnam.
Branscomb, Lewis M (1926-) American Engineer. Lewis M. Branscomb is a Harvard University-trained physicist who served in a variety of university and public service posts before the chief scientist of the IBM Corp
Brazilian communications.
American manned combat spacecraft. Study 1956. Hypersonic manned reconnaissance spaceplane project of the 1950's. Predecessor to Dynasoar.
Brazil
Brazilian AF.
Brede, Hans German expert in jet propulsion during World War II. As of January 1947, working at Wright Field, Ohio.
Bredt, Irene (1911-1983) German engineer. Wife of Eugen Saenger and co-designer of the Silverbird spaceplane
German manufacturer of rockets and spacecraft. OHB System GmbH, Germany.
German re-entry vehicle technology satellite. One launch, 1994.02.03. Atomic oxygen, dust particle, microgravity, reentry experiments.
Bresnik, Randolph James 'Randy' (1967-) American test pilot astronaut, 2004-on.
Brezhnev, Leonid I (1912-1982) Russian politician. Leader of the Soviet Union between 1965 and 1982.
Brezhnev, Mikhail Aleksandrovich Russian politician. Deputy Minister of General Machine Building. Responsible for guidance systems industry.
Brezhnev, Valentin Mikahilovich (1934-) Russian officer. Major General, Chief Director of GUKOS space forces 1985-1991. Higher officer training 1952-1954, entered TsUKOS in 1966, then reached ascending positions within the space forces. Retired in 1991.
BrF5.
Commercial bromine pentafluoride is essentially pure BrF5. It is a pale yellow liquid and exhibits the pungent odour which is characteristic of halogen fluoride. Bromine pentafluoride is toxic and stable, and similar to chlorine trifluoride in reactivity and treated as such. It is prepared by the reaction of fluorine and bromine at temperatures above 200 deg C. The price of BrF5 in 1959 was estimated to be $10.00 per kg in hundred-kg lots.
Oxidizer: BrF5. Fuel: Hydrazine. Propellant Formulation: BrF5/Hydrazine. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 3.35. Temperature of Combustion: 3,350 deg K. Density: 1.86 g/cc. Characteristic velocity c: 1,525 m/s (5,003 ft/sec). Isp Shifting: 243 sec. Oxidizer Density: 2.480 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -63 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: 41 deg C. Fuel Density: 1.008 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: 2.00 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 113 deg C.
Oxidizer: BrF5. Fuel: Hydyne. Propellant Formulation: BrF5/Hydyne. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 3.85. Temperature of Combustion: 3,195 deg K. Density: 1.78 g/cc. Oxidizer Density: 2.480 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -63 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: 41 deg C. Fuel Density: 0.860 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: -84 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 64 deg C.
Oxidizer: BrF5. Fuel: MMH. Propellant Formulation: BrF5/MMH. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 3.55. Temperature of Combustion: 3,265 deg K. Density: 1.77 g/cc. Oxidizer Density: 2.480 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -63 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: 41 deg C. Fuel Density: 0.880 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: -52 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 87 deg C.
Oxidizer: BrF5. Fuel: UDMH. Propellant Formulation: BrF5/UDMH. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 3.8. Temperature of Combustion: 3,220 deg K. Density: 1.72 g/cc. Oxidizer Density: 2.480 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -63 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: 41 deg C. Fuel Density: 0.793 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: -57 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 63 deg C.
Bridgeman, William Barton (1916-1968) American test pilot, 1949-1960. Flew the D-558-2 rocketplane and X-3. Declared the latest "The Fastest Man Alive" in 1951.
Bridges, Roy Dunbard Jr (1943-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-51-F. Grew up in Gainesville, Georgia. Flew 226 combat missions in Vietnam.
Briggs, Geoffrey A American scientist. Led Mars imaging teams for JPL Mariner and Viking missions 1969-1977. Deputy Director and Director, NASA HQ Solar System Exploration Division 1977-1990. Scientific Director, Ames Center for Mars Exploration, 1992-1997.
American anti-ballistic missile. ABM-missiles, SDIO/BMDO project
Bringer, Karl-Heinz (1908-1999) German engineer. Developer of the Viking engine and propulsion leader of the German Rocket Team in France after WW2.
Canadian manufacturer of rocket engines and rockets. Bristol Aerospace Limited, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
British manufacturer. Bristol Aerojet, UK.
British manufacturer of rocket engines. Bristol Siddley, UK.
British manufacturer of rockets and spacecraft. Bristol Spaceplanes, UK.
British manufacturer of rockets. British Aerospace, UK.
British Aerospace Space Station.
European manned space station. Study 1990. British Aerospace Ltd. (BAe) investigated alternate European space station designs for the European Space Agency.
British Army.
British Commercial Group - 1989.
Requirement: British cosmonaut for commercially funded mission to Mir station.
Briz K.
Alternate designation for Rokot-3 Briz rocket stage.
Russian space tug. 6 launches, (1990) to (2002). Upper stage / space tug - in production. Launched by Rokot. Briz KM differed from Briz K in having 'compact' components, and a special payload truss for the Globalstar dispenser.
Briz M.
Alternate designation for Proton KM-4 Briz M rocket stage.
Russian space tug. 2 launches, (1999) to (2000). Upper stage / space tug - in production. New upper stage for Proton, replacing Energia Corporation's Block DM, making Proton an all-Khrunichev launch vehicle.
N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 6,700/1,700 kg. Thrust 19.60 kN. Briz KM differs from Briz K in having 'compact' components, special payload truss for Globalstar dispenser. The truss is 1.8 m in diameter and has a volume of 8.8 m3.
BRL.
American agency. Ballistic Research Laboratory (renamed Army Research Laboratory), USA.
Brode, Wallace Reed (1900-1974) American scientist. Associate director of the National Bureau of Standards 1947-1958.
Brodie, Bernard (1910-1978) American scientist. Political scientist, specialized in Cold War strategy, member of Rand.
Broetler, Hugo (1898-) German welding engineer in WW2, member of the Rocket Team in the Soviet Union, worked on rocket engine development in Glushko's design bureau from 1947 to 1952. Worked in Oxygen Plant; Shop 55.
Broglio, Luigi (1911-2001) Italian engineer. Leading Italian space engineer. Chairman of the Italian National Committee on Space Research. Conceived and directed the San Marco orbital launch platform off the coast of Kenya, 1964-1988.
Bronk, Detlev W (1897-1975) American scientist, president of the National Academy of Sciences, 1950-1962, and a member of the National Aeronautics and Space Council. President of Johns Hopkins University, 1949-1953, and Rockefeller University, 1953-1968.
Bronwell, Arthur B (1909-1985) American electrical engineer, professor at Northwestern University, then president of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute from 1955-1962, then the dean of engineering at the University of Connecticut at Storrs.
Brown, Curtis Lee Jr 'Curt' (1956-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-47, STS-66, STS-77, STS-85, STS-95, STS-103. Flew in space six times.
Brown, David McDowell (1956-2003) American physician mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-107. Perished in Columbia shuttle disintegration during re-entry.
Brown, Mark Neil (1951-) American engineer mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-28, STS-48.
Brucker, Wilber M (1894-1968) American politician. Secretary of the Army 1955-1961.
Bruemmer, Renate Luise (1955-) Swiss engineer payload specialist astronaut, 1987-1993. Meterologist.
Bruenecke, Erhardt German engineer in WW2, member of the Rocket Team in the United States thereafter. German expert in guided missiles during WW2. As of January 1947, working at Fort Bliss, Texas.
American manufacturer. Brunswick, USA.
BS.
Lateral stabilization (Russian abbreviation)
BS.
Medium-scale broadcasting satellites for experimental purposes and communications to Japanese home islands.
BSAT.
Japanese communications.
BSAT.
Japanese agency. Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
BSB.
British Direct broadcasting system. Owner/operator: British Satellite Broadcasting Ltd,.
BSB.
British agency. BSB, UK.
BSD.
Ballistic Systems Division, Air Force
TKS manned capsule guidance system (Russian abbreviation)
Japanese sounding rocket. Derivative of S-310.
Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded mass 600 kg.
BTDS.
American anti-ballistic missile. SDIO/BMDO project, Baseline Terminal Defense System (ex-LoADS), with Sentry
BTTN.
Butanetrioltrinitrate, a highly oxygenated energetic plasticiser
BTU.
British thermal unit
BTW.
By The Way
BU.
Boston University, USA
Bucher, Erich German expert in guided missiles during World War II.
Buchhold, Theodore (1900-1984) German professor. Member of the German Rocket Team in the United States after WW2. German expert in guided missiles during WW2. As of January 1947, working at Fort Bliss, Texas. Died at Wiesbaden, Germany.
Buchholz, Otto German expert in aircraft designer during World War II. As of January 1947, last known to be working at Warneumende, Heinkel Werke.
Buchli, James Frederick 'Jim' (1945-) American test pilot mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-51-C, STS-61-A, STS-29, STS-48. Grew up in Fargo, North Dakota.
Buckey, Jay Clark Jr (1956-) American physician payload specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-90. Active Paylaod Specialist Trainee for Shuttle STS-90 Neurolab Mission;he had been Alternate Payload Specialist for STS-58 Mission SLS-2.
Buckley, Edmond C (1904-1977) American engineer. Instrumentation and tracking expert at NASA, 1930 - 1969. Senior NASA official for tracking operations during the moon race, 1959-1969.
Budarin, Nikolai Mikhailovich (1953-) Russian engineer cosmonaut. Flew on Mir EO-19, Mir EO-25, ISS EO-6. Made nine spacewalks totalling 1.93 days. 444 cumulative days in space. Civilian Engineer, Energia NPO
Budnik, Vasili Sergeyevich (1913-) Russian engineer. First Deputy Designer of KB Yuzhnoye 1954-1972.
Buechner German professor, rocket expert in WW2; later worked in France as head of chemistry group at LRBA from 1947-1953. Then returned to professor post in Germany.
Bugayskiy, Viktor Nikifirovich Russian engineer. Headed Chelomei design bureau Filial 1 1960-1973. Specialised in rockets and spacecraft.
Bugrov, Vladimir Yevgrafovich (1933-) Russian engineer cosmonaut, 1966-1968.
Buhl.
Buhl German engineer, member of Rocket Team in France after WW2. Engineer and German rocket technician; later worked in France as part of the ballistics group at LRBA from 1947 until retirement in 1984. Remained in Vernon, France.
Buinovski, Eduard Ivanovich (1936-) Russian engineer cosmonaut, 1963-1964.
Bukreyev, Viktor Ivanovich (1949-1977) Russian test pilot cosmonaut, 1977. Flew for Gromov Institute. Selected as a cosmonaut for the Buran program, but the selection was not confirmed by the government commission. Died in an aircraft crash.
Family of launch vehicles.
Russian intercontinental ballistic missile. Solid-propellant Soviet intercontinental-range ballistic missile, equipped with multiple independently targeted warheads.
Bulganin, Nikolai Aleksandrovich (1895-1975) Russian Minister of Defense 1947-1949 and 1953-1955. Chaired Special Committee 2 1947-1949. Chairman of the Soviet Council of Ministers, and heavily involved in the negotiations over freedom of space issue for overflight of territories.
Bulgaria
Bulgarian AF.
Bull.
Canadian manufacturer of rockets, spacecraft, and rocket engines. Bull, Canada.
Bull.
Bull, John Sumter (1934-2008) American test pilot astronaut, 1966-1968.
Air/Kerosene rocket stage.
Multi-source solid rocket engine. 111 kN.
American sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Bullpup + 1 x Apache
Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded mass 300 kg. Thrust 111.00 kN.
American sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Bullpup + 1 x Cajun
Bululkov, Vladimir Alekseyevich (1929-) Russian officer. Major General, Deputy Chief of the Mozhaiskiy Military Engineering Institute 1984-1989.
Bulychev, Ivan Timofeyevich Russian officer. Chief of Communications Directorate, Ministry of Defence, 1956-1958.
American test vehicle in the 1940's. The primary goal of the U.S. Navy's Bumblebee missile program was to develop a ramjet-powered surface-to-air missile. Bumblebee test vehicles and technologies led to the operational Terrier and Talos missile of the 1950's.
German V-2 with a 700-pound Army-JPL Wac Corporal.
German short range ballistic test vehicle. Pioneering US demonstration of a two stage launch vehicle, coupling a V-2 with a WAC Corporal. The first ballistic missile fired from Cape Canaveral.
German agency. Bundespost, Germany.
Bundy, McGeorge (1919-1996) American Bureaucrat. McGeorge Bundy was a professor of government before serving as the national security adviser to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson from 1961-1966.
Buran.
Russian manned spaceplane. One launch, 1988.11.15. Soviet copy of the US Space Shuttle. Unlike the Shuttle, the main engines were not mounted on Buran and were not reused.
The Energia-Buran Reusable Space System (MKS) had its origins in NPO Energia studies of 1974 to 1975 for a 'Space Rocket Complex Program'.
Russian intercontinental cruise missile. A government decree on 20 May 1954 authorised the Myasishchev aircraft design bureau to proceed with full-scale development of the Buran trisonic intercontinental cruise missile. The competing Burya design of Lavochkin was launched in July 1957, but the development of unstoppable ICBM's had made intercontinntal cruise missiles oboslete. The equivalent American Navaho project was cancelled ten days later. Korolev's R-7 ICBM completed its first successful test flight in August. Buran was being prepared for its first flight when Myasishchev's project was cancelled on November 1957.
Crew: Volk, Tolboyev. Cancelled Buran Flight 5 (3K1) would have been the first flight of the third orbiter. It would be the first manned Buran flight; the third orbiter was the first outfitted with life support systems and ejection seats. Backup crew: Zabolotski, Sultanov.
Russian manned spaceplane. Study 1984. This Buran OK-GLI 'Analogue' was a version of the Buran spaceplane equipped with jet engines to allow it to be flown in handling and landing system tests at subsonic speed in the earth's atmosphere.
Requirement: test pilot for the Buran program.
Requirement: test pilots for the Buran program.
Requirement: test pilots for Buran spaceplane
Requirement: test pilots for Buran spaceplane
Buran Group 3 Supplemental - 1990.
Requirement: test pilots for Buran spaceplane
Nitric acid/Kerosene propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 18,000/3,000 kg. Thrust 755.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 254 seconds. Booster for Buran missile. Four used to boost ramjet second stage to ignition conditions. Masses estimated based on missile known total mass. Specific impulse estimated.
Ramjet missile stage. Loaded/empty mass 53,000/15,000 kg. Thrust 103.90 kN. Specific impulse 1500 seconds. Boosted by 4 x Glushko-engined boosters. 8,500 km cruise at Mach 3.1 at 18-20 km altitude with 3,500 kg warhead. Wing area 98 square meters; diameter of ramjet 2.0 m. Never reached flight test. Masses estimated based on missile known total mass.
The full history of the Buran shuttle, the largest space project ever mounted in the Soviet Union.
Fully recoverable version of Energia launch vehicle, with four winged boosters and a winged core stage.
Burbank, Daniel Christopher (1961-) American engineer mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-106, STS-115.
Burdayev, Mikhail Nikolayevich (1932-) Russian engineer cosmonaut, 1967-1983. Graduated from Air Force Engineering Academy, doctorate degree, 1987. Cosmonaut training from May 1967 - 18 August 1969. Worked as trainer at the Gagarin Center. Professor in space ballistics from 1994.
Burden, William AM (1906-1984) American engineer. Aviation consultant, served on the National Aeronautics and Space Council 1958-1959.
American agency. Bureau of Standards, USA.
Category of persons.
Category of spacecraft.
Category of spacecraft.
Burke, Arleigh A (1901-1996) American officer. Chief of Naval Operations, 1955-1961, during development of the Polaris SLBM.
Russian air-launched winged orbital launch vehicle. Burlak air-launched satellite launcher was proposed in 1992 and studied by Germany in 1992-1994. Evidently based on secret anti-satellite missile. Air launched from Tu-160 bomber, released at 13,500 m altitude and Mach 1.7. Development estimated to cost only DM 50 million, but not proceeded with. Burlak/Diana variant would have been launched from Concorde.
N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 18,000/1,800 kg. Thrust 357.90 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 320 seconds. Masses, thrust, specific impulse estimated based on total vehicle mass of 28.5 tonnes and first stage burn time of 140 seconds. Air launched from Tu-160 at 13,500 m, Mach 1.7 release conditions.
Russian N2O4/UDMH rocket engine. 360 kN. Burlak stage 1. Development ended 1992. Isp=320s. Air launched from Tu-160 at 13,500 m, Mach 1.7 release conditions.
N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 9,400/900 kg. Thrust 98.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 330 seconds. Masses, thrust, specific impulse estimated based on total vehicle mass of 28.5 tonnes and first stage burn time of 140 seconds. Air launched from Tu-160 at 13,500 m, Mach 1.7 release conditions.
N2O4/UDMH rocket engine. 98 kN. Burlak stage 2. Development ended 1992. Isp=330s. Air launched from Tu-160 at 13,500 m, Mach 1.7 release conditions.
Burnazyan, Avetik Ignatyevich (1906-) Russian bureaucrat. Deputy Minister of Health from 1947. Involved in Voskhod crew selection.
Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 774/116 kg. Thrust 43.55 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 285 seconds. Burner II was a launch vehicle upper stage developed by Boeing for the Air Force Space Systems Division. It was the first solid-fuel upper stage with full control and guidance capability developed for general space applications.
Burner 2A.
Government designation of Star 26B Solid rocket engine.
Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 353/115 kg. Thrust 39.15 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 285 seconds. Burner II was a launch vehicle upper stage developed by Boeing for the Air Force Space Systems Division. It was the first solid-fuel upper stage with full control and guidance capability developed for general space applications.
Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 1,243/168 kg. Thrust 51.15 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 297 seconds.
Burose, Walter W B (1906-1983) German-American expert in guided missiles during World War II. Thereafter with the rocket team at Fort Bliss, White Stands, and then at Huntsville. Died at Huntsville, Alabama.
Bursch, Daniel Wheeler 'Dan' (1957-) American test pilot mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-51, STS-68, STS-77, ISS EO-4.
A government decree on 20 May 1954 authorised the Lavochkin aircraft design bureau to proceed with full-scale development of the Burya trisonic intercontinental cruise missile. Burya launches began in July 1957. The project was cancelled, but the team was allowed final tests in 1961 that demonstrated a 6,500 km range at Mach 3.2 with the 2,350 kg payload. In cancelling Burya the Russians gave up technology that Lavochkin planned to evolve into a manned shuttle-like recoverable launch vehicle.
Ramjet missile stage. Loaded/empty mass 40,865/13,000 kg. Thrust 76.00 kN. Specific impulse 1500 seconds. Boosted by 2 x R-11 derivative boosters. 6,500 km tested, 8,000 km specified, cruise at Mach 3.2 at 18-20 km altitude with 2,350 kg warhead. Flight tested 1957 - 1960. Wing area 60 square meters; diameter of ramjet inlet 1.7 m. Total missile mass 97,215 kg; gross masses prorated, empty masses estimated.
Nitric acid/Amine propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 27,000/4,000 kg. Thrust 771.70 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 250 seconds. Booster for Burya missile. Two used to boost ramjet second stage to ignition conditions. Engines developed by Isayev from R-11 S2.253 engine. Early Buryas had S2.1100 engine. Masses estimated based on known total vehicle mass.
Busemann, Adolf German expert in dynamics during World War II, working for the Luftwaffe at Braunschweig-Voelkenrode. Went to the USA after the war. In the early 1960's active at NASA's Langley Research Center, working on deployable space station concepts.
Bush.
Bush, George H W (1924-) American Politician. George H.W. Bush served as president of the United States between 1989 and 1993. Before that time he had been a diplomat, director of the CIA, and vice president under Ronald Reagan
Bush, Vannevar (1890-1974) American engineer, primary scientific adviser to Roosevelt and Truman, immensely influential in plans for nuclear weapons, missiles, aviation, and advanced propulsion 1939-1949. Discouraged early development of the ICBM.
Bushuyev, Konstantin Davidovich (1914-1978) Russian engineer. Deputy Chief Designer to Korolev, 1954-1975.
Category of persons.
Bussmann, Enno German expert in remote control of rockets during World War II. As of January 1947, living at Landshut, Bayern, Niedermayrstr. 23.
Butchart, S P American test pilot, flew D-558-1, D-558-2, X-4, X-5.
Butoma, Boris Yevstafyevich (1907-1976) Russian bureaucrat. Minister of Shipbuilding Industry 1957-1976.
Butterfly.
Alternate Designation of Schmetterling surface-to-air missile.
Butterworth, Louis William (1948-) American engineer payload specialist astronaut, 1984-1986.
BVK.
Analogue computer, used during Almaz flights
BWB.
German manufacturer of spacecraft. BWB, Germany.
The Gusmobile might have gotten on the moon faster, quicker, cheaper (but not better...)
Bykov, Yuri Sergeyevich (1916-1970) Russian engineer. Chief Designer 1959-1970 of Nll-95. Specialised in communications systems for piloted spacecraft.
Bykovsky, Valeri Fyodorovich (1934-) Russian pilot cosmonaut. Flew on Vostok 5, Soyuz 22, Salyut 6 EP-4.
Headquarters of an RVSN Division, 1961-on. Perhaps operated R-12 missiles.
Bytovoy otsek.
Russian name (living module) for Soyuz TM BO manned spacecraft module.