Encyclopedia Astronautica
C



C.
  • degrees Celsius (centigrade)

C&T.

  • Communications & Tracking

C/NOFS.

  • American earth seismology satellite. One launch, 2008.04.16. The C/NOFS (Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System) satellite flew the US Defence Department's Space Test Program P00-3 space weather forecasting mission.

C-1.

C-130.

  • Air/Kerosene rocket stage.

C-17.

  • Air/Kerosene rocket stage.

C-1A.

  • American pressure suit, tested 1958. A partial pressure capstan suit with incorporated anti-G bladders for USN fighter aircraft, 12 standard sizes.

C-21.

C3-1.

  • Hercules solid rocket engine.

C3-2.

  • Herculessolid rocket engine.

C4.

  • American manufacturer of spacecraft. C4, USA.

C-4.

  • American pressure suit, operational 1958. A partial pressure capstan suit, with vertical shoulder laces, adjustable break lines, anti-G suit, MG-1 Berger Bros. gloves, MA-2 helmet by ILC Dover.

C4-1.

  • Hercules solid rocket engine.

C4-2.

  • Hercules solid rocket engine.

CAALPT.

  • Chinese manufacturer of rocket engines. China Academy of Aerospace Liquid Propulsion Technology, Xian, China.

Cabana.

  • Cabana, Robert Donald 'Bob' (1949-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-41, STS-53, STS-65, STS-88. US Marine Corps

Cabell.

  • Cabell, Charles P (1903-1971) American officer. USAF intelligence, Deputy Director, CIA 1953-1962. Promoted U-2 and Corona spy satellite. Forced to resign after Bay of Pigs debacle.

Cablevision.

  • American agency. Cablevision, USA.

Cagle.

  • Cagle, Yvonne Darlene (1959-) African-American physician mission specialist astronaut, 1996-on.

Cagle, Myrtle.

  • Cagle, Myrtle K Thompson (1922-) American pilot, one of the Mercury 13 female astroauts proposed in 1961, but never entered training.

Cai Jintao.

  • Cai Jintao (1908-1996) Chinese Engineer. Chinese communications and telemetry systems engineer.

Cai Qiao.

  • Cai Qiao (1897-1990) Chinese Biologist. Cai Qiao was Vice President of the Military Medical Sciences Academy of the People's Liberation Army. In April 1966 he was one of three senior scientists that laid out the plans for China's first manned spacecraft.

Cajun.

  • The Cajun research rocket was developed as a dimensionally-similar but higher performance successor to the Deacon.

Cajun.

  • American sounding rocket. The Cajun research rocket was developed as a dimensionally-similar but higher performance successor to the Deacon.

Cajun.

  • Thiokol solid rocket engine. 36 kN.

Cajun Dart.

  • American sounding rocket. Single stage vehicle.

Cajun Dart-1.

  • Solid rocket stage. 36.00 kN (8,093 lbf) thrust. Mass 100 kg (220 lb).

Cal Poly.

  • American manufacturer. Cal Poly, USA.

CALCM.

  • Popular Name of AGM-86C air-to-surface missile.

Caldeiro.

  • Caldeiro, Fernando 'Frank' (1958-2009) Hispanic-American engineer mission specialist astronaut, 1996-2009.

Caldwell.

  • Dyson Caldwell, Tracy Ellen (1969-) American chemist mission specialist astronaut. Chemist. Flew on STS-118, ISS EO-23.

Caleb.

  • American air-launched orbital launch vehicle. Heavily classifed project related to air-launched ASAT development. Launch tests in 1958. NOTS project staff believed they successully orbited a satellite but unconfirmed.

Caleb-2.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 267/23 kg. Thrust 13.78 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 254 seconds.

Caleb-3.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 35/6 kg. Thrust 2.27 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 250 seconds.

Caleb-4.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 5/1 kg. Thrust 0.71 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 250 seconds.

California Microwave.

  • American manufacturer. California Microwave, USA.

Calipso.

  • American earth weather satellite. One launch, 2006.04.28.

Calsphere.

  • American military target satellite. 11 launches, 1964.10.06 (Calsphere 1) to 1971.02.17 (Calsphere 5). Radar calibration objects (but also cover for other classified subsatellites).

CALT.

CALT.

  • First name of SISE

CALT.

  • Chinese manufacturer of rockets, spacecraft, and rocket engines. China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, Beijing, China.

Caltech.

CALVT.

  • Chinese Academy of Launch Vehicles Technology

Camarda.

  • Camarda, Charles Joseph (1952-) American engineer mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-114.

Cambridge.

  • American agency. Cambridge, USA.

CAMEO.

  • American earth magnetosphere satellite. One launch, 1978.10.13. Released barium cloud.

Cameron.

  • Cameron, Kenneth Donald (1949-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-37, STS-56, STS-74. US Marine Corps

Cameroon.

  • Cameroon

Camp de Suippes.

  • Test rocket launch location known to have been used for 5 launches from 1950 to 1951, reaching up to 2 kilometers altitude.

Can X.

  • Canadian technology satellite. 2 launched, 2008.04.28 (Can X-6 ) and (Can X-2 ).

Canada.

  • Canada

Canada Group 1 - 1983.

  • Requirement: engineer, and scientist astronauts for space shuttle flight billets provided in exchange for Canadian development of the shuttle's remote manipulator arm.

Canada Group 2 - 1992.

  • Requirement: engineer, and scientist astronauts for space shuttle flight billets provided in exchange for Canadian development of the shuttle's remote manipulator arm.

Canadian Arrow.

  • Canadian manned spacecraft. Study 2004. X-Prize suborbital ballistic spacecraft concept of Geoff Sheerin, Toronto. Reached the stage of engineering tests by 2003.

Canadian Forces.

  • Canadian Forces.

Canadian PPS.

  • Canadian pressure suit, operational 1957. The Canadian Waistcoat-Mask/Vest/G-Suit was a partial pressure assembly. The Canadians studied variants of this assembly as far back as the early 1940's.

Cancelled.

  • Category of launch vehicles and spacecraft.

Cancelled manned spaceflight.

  • Family of spaceflights.

Cannes.

  • French manufacturer of spacecraft. Cannes, France.

Cannon.

  • Cannon, Joseph American test pilot. Flew the X-1 # 3.

Cannonball.

  • American military target satellite. One launch, 1971.08.07. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology.

Canopus.

  • Single stage vehicle.

Canopus.

  • Argentinan sounding rocket. Single stage vehicle.

Canopus.

  • IIAE solid rocket engine.

Canopus 2.

  • Argentinan sounding rocket. Single stage vehicle.

Canopus 2-1.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded mass 200 kg.

Canterbury.

  • Cant.

Canterbury.

  • Canterbury, William Monte American officer. Senior management positions in USAF missile development, senior staff scientist, Lockheed, from 1961.

Canyon.

  • American military naval signals reconnaisance satellite. 7 launches, 1968.08.06 (Canyon 1) to 1977.05.23 (Canyon 7). The first large US signals intelligence satellite.

Capcom.

  • Capsule communicator

Cape Canaveral.

  • America's largest launch center, used for all manned launches. Today only six of the 40 launch complexes built here remain in use. Located at or near Cape Canaveral are the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, used by NASA for Saturn V and Space Shuttle launches; Patrick AFB on Cape Canaveral itself, operated the US Department of Defense and handling most other launches; the commercial Spaceport Florida; the air-launched launch vehicle and missile Drop Zone off Mayport, Florida, located at 29.00 N 79.00 W, and an offshore submarine-launched ballistic missile launch area. All of these take advantage of the extensive down-range tracking facilities that once extended from the Cape, through the Caribbean, South Atlantic, and to South Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Cape Canaveral ETR.

  • Trident launch complex.

Cape Canaveral LA.

  • Snark, Matador, Lark launch complex.

Cape Canaveral LC1.

  • Snark launch complex. This complex was constructed for the Snark winged missile program, and may have supported some Matador combat training launches in the 1950s. The Air Force accepted the sites in 1953, and the complexes continued to support Snark launches through 5 December 1960. The pad served as a helicopter pad for the Mercury manned program in the early 1960s, and supported tethered aerostat (balloon) programs from 1983 through 1989.

Cape Canaveral LC10.

  • Navaho, Jason, Draco launch complex. The complex was built to support the Navaho winged intercontinental missile program. The Air Force accepted both sites 9 and 10 on 29 June 1956. Complex 10 supported its first Navaho launch on 622 March 1957 respectively. In all, 11 Navaho XSM-64 vehicles were launched from the sites. Both complexes were demolished in 1959 to make room for Minuteman complexes 31 and 32.

Cape Canaveral LC11.

  • Atlas launch complex. The complex was built for the Atlas ballistic missile program. Launch sites 11 to 14 were accepted between August 1957 and mid-April 1958. Complex 11 supported 28 Atlas launches and five Atlas Advanced Ballistic Reentry System flights between 19 July 1958 and 2 April 1964. Complexes 11, 12 and 14 were deactivated in 1967.

Cape Canaveral LC12.

  • Atlas launch complex. The complex was built for the Atlas ballistic missile program. Launch sites 11 to 14 were accepted between August 1957 and mid-April 1958. Complex 12 supported its first Atlas launch on 10 January 1958, and it supported nine Ranger missions and four Mariner missions between 12 August 1961 and 15 June 1967. Complexes 11, 12 and 14 were deactivated in 1967, and Complex 13 was deactivated in April 1978.

Cape Canaveral LC13.

  • Atlas launch complex. Originally built in 1958 for the Atlas ballistic missile program, Complex 13 supported 51 Atlas and Atlas/Agena launches from 1958 to 1978.

Cape Canaveral LC14.

  • Atlas launch complex. The complex was built for the Atlas ballistic missile program. Launch sites 11 to 14 were accepted between August 1957 and mid-April 1958. After its final Atlas missile launch, Complex 14 was converted into an Atlas /Agena launch complex, and later turned over to NASA. Complex 14 supported 32 Atlas and Atlas/Agena missions, including four manned Mercury missions and seven unmanned Gemini target vehicle launches. Complexes 11, 12 and 14 were deactivated in 1967. Complex 14 and the gantry on Complex 13 were declared national historic landmarks in April 1984.

Cape Canaveral LC15.

  • Titan launch complex. Complexes 15, 16, 19, and 20 were built for the Titan ballistic missile program. The sites were accepted by the U.S. Government between February and mid-September 1959. All four sites supported Titan I launches in 1959 and the early 1960s, and complexes 15 and 16 supported Titan II launches between 16 March 1962 and 10 April 1964. Complex 15 was deactivated in March 1967, and it was dismantled three months later.

Cape Canaveral LC16.

  • Titan, Pershing launch complex. Originally built for the Titan ballistic missile program in 1959. Supported Titan I and II launches from 1960 to 1964. Reassigned to NASA in 1965 for static firings of the Apollo service module propulsion engine. Deactivated in 1969, later reassigned to the U.S. Army, supported 128 Pershing ballistic missile launches 1974 -1988. Deactivated in accordance with the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

Cape Canaveral LC17A.

  • Delta launch complex. Part of a dual launch pad complex built for the Thor ballistic missile program in 1956. Pad 17A supported Thor, Delta, and Delta II launches into the 21st Century.

Cape Canaveral LC17B.

  • Delta launch complex. Part of a dual launch pad complex built for the Thor ballistic missile program in 1956. Upgraded over the decades for use with Thor, Delta, Delta II, and Delta III launch vehicles, it remained in use for over half a century.

Cape Canaveral LC18A.

  • Viking, Vanguard, Scout launch complex. The LC18 complex included two launch pads 18A and 18B. Pad 18A was used to launch 14 Vanguard space vehicles for NASA and the U.S. Navy between 8 December 1956 and 19 September 1959. Following termination of the Vanguard program, Pad 18A supported ten Blue Scout Junior launches for the Air Force between 21 September 1960 and 10 June 1965. Complex 18 was deactivated on 1 February 1967.

Cape Canaveral LC18B.

  • Scout, Delta launch complex. The LC18 complex included two launch pads 18A and 18B. Pad 18B supported 17 Thor missile launches between 4 June 1958 and 1 March 1960. Pad 18B supported half a dozen Blue Scout I, Blue Scout II and Scout missions between 7 January 1961 and 13 April 1962. Complex 18 was deactivated on 1 February 1967.

Cape Canaveral LC19.

  • Titan launch complex. Complexes 15, 16, 19, and 20 were built for the Titan ballistic missile program. The sites were accepted by the U.S. Government between February and mid-September 1959. All four sites supported Titan I launches in 1959 and the early 1960s. In 1962 and 1963, Complex 19 was converted into the space program's only manned Titan II/Gemini launch complex. It supported two unmanned and ten manned Gemini missions between 8 April 1964 and 16 November 1966. Complex 19 was deactivated on 10 April 1967, and it was declared a national historic landmark in April 1984.

Cape Canaveral LC2.

  • Snark launch complex. This complex was constructed for the Snark winged missile program, and may have supported some Matador combat training launches in the 1950s. The Air Force accepted the sites in 1953, and the complexes continued to support Snark launches through 5 December 1960. The pad served as a helicopter pad for the Mercury manned program in the early 1960s, and supported tethered aerostat (balloon) programs from 1983 through 1989.

Cape Canaveral LC20.

  • Titan, Super Chief, Loki, Prospector, Aries launch complex. Complexes 15, 16, 19, and 20 were built for the Titan ballistic missile program. The sites were accepted by the U.S. Government between February and mid-September 1959. All four sites supported Titan I launches in 1959 and the early 1960s. Complex 20 was modified to support four Titan IIIA flights which took place between 1 September 1964 and 7 May 1965. The site was deactivated in April 1967, but it got a new lease on life toward the end of the 1980s. Complex 20 was selected for the Starbird program in 1987, and it supported a Starbird launch on 18 December 1990. Between 18 June 1991 and 29 May 1993, the complex supported the commercial Joust-1 launch and four Red Tigress and Red Tigress II missions sponsored by the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization. Much of Complex 20's electronic equipment and both of its rail launchers were removed in 1995, rendering the site inactive.

Cape Canaveral LC21/1.

  • Mace launch complex. Launcher 1. In the mid-1950s, a launch area near the Cape Lighthouse was set aside for complexes 21 and 22 to support the Air Force's winged Bull Goose decoy missile project. Construction started in 1956, and the Air Force accepted both complexes on 26 February 1957. In all, the complexes supported five dummy and 15 live Bull Goose and Goose missile launches between 13 March 1957 and 6 December 1958. In 1959 and 1960, the sites were rebuilt to support a total of 44 Mace and Mace B winged cruise missile launches. The last Mace B was launched on 17 July 1963, and the complexes remained dormant pending reassignment to another program. Both complexes were finally deactivated in the early 1970s.

Cape Canaveral LC21/2.

  • Mace launch complex. Launcher 2. In the mid-1950s, a launch area near the Cape Lighthouse was set aside for complexes 21 and 22 to support the Air Force's winged Bull Goose decoy missile project. Construction started in 1956, and the Air Force accepted both complexes on 26 February 1957. In all, the complexes supported five dummy and 15 live Bull Goose and Goose missile launches between 13 March 1957 and 6 December 1958. In 1959 and 1960, the sites were rebuilt to support a total of 44 Mace and Mace B winged cruise missile launches. The last Mace B was launched on 17 July 1963, and the complexes remained dormant pending reassignment to another program. Both complexes were finally deactivated in the early 1970s.

Cape Canaveral LC22.

  • Mace launch complex. Cruise missile launch complex. Supported 20 Bull Goose and Goose missile launches 1957-1958. Rebuilt to support 44 Mace missile launches 1959-1963.

Cape Canaveral LC25A.

  • X-17, Polaris launch complex. Complex 25 was built to support the U.S. Navy's Polaris submarine ballistic missile program. The Navy occupied pad 25A in December 1957. Complex 25 supported 68 Polaris missile launches between 18 April 1958 and 6 March 1965. Pads 25A and 25B were dismantled in September 1969.

Cape Canaveral LC25B.

  • Polaris launch complex. Complex 25 was built to support the U.S. Navy's Polaris submarine ballistic missile program. The Navy occupied pad 25B in January 1958. Complex 25 supported 68 Polaris missile launches between 18 April 1958 and 6 March 1965. Pads 25A and 25B were dismantled in September 1969.

Cape Canaveral LC25C.

  • Trident, Poseidon launch complex. Complex 25 supported the U.S. Navy's submarine ballistic missile programs. Pads 25C and 25D were built in 1967 to support the Navy's Poseidon ballistic missile program. Seventeen Poseidons were launched from pads 25C and 25D between 16 August 1968 and 30 June 1970. Pad 25C supported the Cape's first Trident I ballistic missile launch on 18 January 1977. Seventeen more Trident I missiles were launched from Pad 25C between 15 February 1977 and 24 January 1979. Complex 25 was inactivated and dismantled in 1979.

Cape Canaveral LC25D.

  • Poseidon launch complex. Complex 25 supported the U.S. Navy's submarine ballistic missile programs. Pads 25C and 25D were built in 1967 to support the Navy's Poseidon ballistic missile program. Seventeen Poseidons were launched from pads 25C and 25D between 16 August 1968 and 30 June 1970. Complex 25 was inactivated and dismantled in 1979.

Cape Canaveral LC26A.

  • Redstone, Jupiter launch complex. The LC-26 dual launch pad complex was constructed for the U.S. Army's Redstone and Jupiter missile programs in 1956-1957. At least 36 Redstone, Jupiter, Jupiter C and Juno II launches were conducted 1957-1964.

Cape Canaveral LC26B.

  • Jupiter launch complex. The LC-26 dual launch pad complex was constructed for the U.S. Army's Redstone and Jupiter missile programs in 1956-1957. At least 36 Redstone, Jupiter, Jupiter C and Juno II launches were conducted 1957-1964.

Cape Canaveral LC29A.

  • Polaris launch complex. Complex 29 was built to support the U.S. Navy's Polaris submarine ballistic missile program. Construction began in August 1958. The Navy occupied the site in July 1959, and Pad 29A supported 47 Polaris launches between 21 September 1959 and 2 November 1967. The complex was placed on standby status in 1968, and it was upgraded to support the British Chevaline submarine ballistic missile program in the mid 1970s. Complex 29 supported ten Chevaline launches between 12 September 1977 and 20 May 1980. The site was deactivated in 1980.

Cape Canaveral LC29B.

  • Polaris launch complex. Complex 29 was built to support the U.S. Navy's Polaris submarine ballistic missile program. Construction began in August 1958. The Navy occupied the site in July 1959. The complex was placed on standby status in 1968, and it was upgraded to support the British Chevaline submarine ballistic missile program in the mid 1970s. Complex 29 supported ten Chevaline launches between 12 September 1977 and 20 May 1980. The site was deactivated in 1980.

Cape Canaveral LC3.

  • X-17, V-2, Polaris, Bomarc launch complex. This complex was built to support the Bomarc interceptor missile program, but also supported Bumper, Jason, Redstone, X-17 and Polaris ballistic missile operations. The Air Force accepted Complex 3 in November 1951. The location had already supported the Cape's first major launch - Bumper 8 - on 24 July 1950. Following the last Bomarc launch in April 1960, some Bomarc support facilities were converted into a medical support area for Project Mercury. Later the complex supported tethered aerostat programs from 1983 through 1989.

Cape Canaveral LC30A.

  • Pershing launch complex. This complex was built as a dual launch pad facility to support the U.S. Army's Pershing missile program in the early 1960s. The complex was occupied by the Army on 8 January 1960. Between 25 February 1960 and 25 April 1963, Complex 30 supported 49 Pershing launches from its pads or from tactical erector/launchers positioned on or near the pads. Following completion of the Pershing test flight program, the mobile gantry on Complex 26 was dismantled in February 1968. Pershing 1A follow-on tests began at Complex 31 on 21 February 1973.

Cape Canaveral LC30B.

  • This complex was built as a dual launch pad facility to support the U.S. Army's Pershing missile program in the early 1960s. The complex was occupied by the Army on 8 January 1960. Between 25 February 1960 and 25 April 1963, Complex 30 supported 49 Pershing launches from its pads or from tactical erector/launchers positioned on or near the pads. Following completion of the Pershing test flight program, the mobile gantry on Complex 26 was dismantled in February 1968. Pershing 1A follow-on tests began at Complex 31 on 21 February 1973.

Cape Canaveral LC30D.

  • Pershing launch complex. This complex was built as a dual launch pad facility to support the U.S. Army's Pershing missile program in the early 1960s. The complex was occupied by the Army on 8 January 1960. Between 25 February 1960 and 25 April 1963, Complex 30 supported 49 Pershing launches from its pads or from tactical erector/launchers positioned on or near the pads. Following completion of the Pershing test flight program, the mobile gantry on Complex 26 was dismantled in February 1968. Pershing 1A follow-on tests began at Complex 31 on 21 February 1973.

Cape Canaveral LC30E.

  • Pershing launch complex. This complex was built as a dual launch pad facility to support the U.S. Army's Pershing missile program in the early 1960s. The complex was occupied by the Army on 8 January 1960. Between 25 February 1960 and 25 April 1963, Complex 30 supported 49 Pershing launches from its pads or from tactical erector/launchers positioned on or near the pads. Following completion of the Pershing test flight program, the mobile gantry on Complex 26 was dismantled in February 1968. Pershing 1A follow-on tests began at Complex 31 on 21 February 1973.

Cape Canaveral LC31A.

  • Pershing, Minuteman, M55E1 launch complex. Built 1959-1960 to support the Air Force's Minuteman missile program. Used for Minuteman tests 1961-1970. In 1973 used briefly for the Army's Pershing 1A follow-on testing program.

Cape Canaveral LC31B.

  • Minuteman launch silo. Complexes 31 and 32 were built between July 1959 and July 1960 to support the Air Force's Minuteman missile program. Each complex had one blockhouse and two launch pads. The two "A" pads were constructed as conventional flat pads, and the two "B" pads were built as ballistic missile silos. The sites were modified subsequently to support later versions of the Minuteman missile. In all, 92 Minuteman I, II and III missiles were launched from the complexes between 1 February 1961 and 15 December 1970.

Cape Canaveral LC32A.

  • Complexes 31 and 32 were built between July 1959 and July 1960 to support the Air Force's Minuteman missile program. Each complex had one blockhouse and two launch pads. The two "A" pads were constructed as conventional flat pads, and the two "B" pads were built as ballistic missile silos. The sites were modified subsequently to support later versions of the Minuteman missile. In all, 92 Minuteman I, II and III missiles were launched from the complexes between 1 February 1961 and 15 December 1970.

Cape Canaveral LC32B.

  • Minuteman launch silo. Complexes 31 and 32 were built between July 1959 and July 1960 to support the Air Force's Minuteman missile program. Each complex had one blockhouse and two launch pads. The two "A" pads were constructed as conventional flat pads, and the two "B" pads were built as ballistic missile silos. The sites were modified subsequently to support later versions of the Minuteman missile. Pad 32B supported the first Minuteman II and III launches on 24 September 1964 and 16 August 1968 respectively. In all, 92 Minuteman I, II and III missiles were launched from the complexes between 1 February 1961 and 15 December 1970.

Cape Canaveral LC34.

  • Saturn I launch complex. Saturn I and IB program launch complex, built 1959-1961. Four Saturn I and three Saturn IB vehicles were launched from Complex 34 between 27 October 1961 and 12 October 1968.

Cape Canaveral LC36A.

  • Atlas launch complex. Launch site built in 1960 for NASA's Atlas/Centaur development program, and used for launches of that launch vehicle until its retirement.

Cape Canaveral LC36B.

  • Atlas V, Atlas launch complex. Atlas Centaur launch pad, in service from 1964 until the retirement of the launch vehicle.

Cape Canaveral LC37A.

  • Complexes 34 and 37 were designed to support NASA's Saturn I and Saturn IB program. Complex 37 was built in 1962, and it was occupied by NASA in January 1963. Complex 37 supported eight Saturn I and Saturn IB missions, including the first flight of an unmanned Apollo lunar module, between 29 January 1964 and 23 January 1968. Complexes 34 and 37 were mothballed in November 1971, and their service structures were scrapped in April 1972. NASA retained control of both complexes, and both sites became NASA tour stops.

Cape Canaveral LC37B.

  • Saturn I, Delta IV launch complex. Complexes 34 and 37 were designed to support NASA's Saturn I and Saturn IB program. Complex 37 was built in 1962, and it was occupied by NASA in January 1963. Complex 37 supported eight Saturn I and Saturn IB missions, including the first flight of an unmanned Apollo lunar module, between 29 January 1964 and 23 January 1968. Complexes 34 and 37 were mothballed in November 1971, and their service structures were scrapped in April 1972. NASA retained control of both complexes, and both sites became NASA tour stops.

Cape Canaveral LC39.

  • Cape Canaveral LC39

Cape Canaveral LC39A.

  • Shuttle, Saturn V launch complex. LC39A and LC39B, part of the Kennedy Space Center, were built on Merritt Island (north/northwest of the Cape) to support the Saturn V/Apollo lunar landing program. The sites were modified in the last half of the 1970s to support the manned Space Shuttle program. Construction began in December 1963. Complex 39A was completed on 4 October 1965. Complex 39A supported two unmanned and nine manned Saturn V/Apollo missions between 9 November 1967 and 8 December 1972. The site also supported the launch of the Skylab space station on 14 May 1973. Both complexes were modified to support Space Shuttle missions later on. Complex 39A supported the first Space Shuttle launch on 12 April 1981.

Cape Canaveral LC39B.

  • Shuttle, Saturn V, Saturn I launch complex. LC39A and LC39B, part of the Kennedy Space Center, were built on Merritt Island (north/northwest of the Cape) to support the Saturn V/Apollo lunar landing program in 1963-1966. The sites were modified in the last half of the 1970s to support the manned Space Shuttle program.

Cape Canaveral LC39C.

  • This complex would have been part of the Kennedy Space Center, on Merritt Island (north/northwest of the Cape), and supported the Saturn V/Apollo lunar landing program. However this third Saturn V pad was never built. LC-39C was the original designation for the pad closest to the Vertical Assembly Building, and LC-39A for the farthest of the three planned pads. When it was decided not to build the third launch pad, LC-39C was renamed LC-39A.

Cape Canaveral LC39D.

  • If NASA had received funding for its schemes for manned Mars expeditions and enormous space stations in the 1970's, two additional pads would have been built at LC39 for advanced versions of the Saturn V. LC39D would have been west of the also-unbuilt LC39C.

Cape Canaveral LC39E.

  • If NASA had received funding for its schemes for manned Mars expeditions and enormous space stations in the 1970's, two additional pads would have been built at LC39 for advanced versions of the Saturn V. LC39E would have been northwest of the also-unbuilt LC39C.

Cape Canaveral LC4.

  • Redstone, Matador, Bomarc launch complex. This complex was built to support the Bomarc interceptor missile program, but also supported Bumper, Jason, Redstone, X-17 and Polaris ballistic missile operations. The Air Force accepted Complex 4 in 1952. Following the last Bomarc launch in April 1960, some Bomarc support facilities were converted into a medical support area for Project Mercury. Later the complex supported tethered aerostat programs from 1983 through 1989.

Cape Canaveral LC40.

  • Titan launch complex. Constructed as part of the Titan Integrate-Transfer-Launch (ITL) facility at the north end of Cape Canaveral in the early 1960s. Supported a wide variety of military space missions involving Titan IIIC, Titan 34D and Titan IV vehicles.

Cape Canaveral LC41.

  • Titan, Atlas V launch complex. Complexes 40 and 41 were constructed as part of the Integrate-Transfer-Launch (ITL) Titan launch facility at the north end of Cape Canaveral in the early 1960s. Over the next three decades, the complexes supported a wide variety of military space missions involving Titan IIIC, Titan 34D and Titan IV. Complex 41 was deactivated at the end of 1977, then upgraded for the Titan IV program in the 1986-88 period. In October 1999, Complex 41 was demolished with high explosives in order for a new pad for launch of the Atlas 5 rocket to be erected. By then it had been the starting point for 27 Titan flights.

Cape Canaveral LC42.

  • Complexes 40 and 41 were constructed as part of a $39 million project to build an Integrate-Transfer-Launch (ITL) facility at the north end of Cape Canaveral in the early 1960s. An additional LC-42 was planned at the ITL to support ambitious military space projects that never materialized. It was intended to be used by Titan 3 rockets, and would have branched to the north of the Titan causeway, symmetrical to LC-40. It is doubtful that LC-42 would actually have been built because it would pose a safety problem to operations from LC-39A.

Cape Canaveral LC43.

  • Viper, Loki, Hopi, Arcas, Rocketsonde launch complex.

Cape Canaveral LC46.

  • Trident, Athena launch complex. This complex was built as part of the U.S. Navy's Trident II ballistic missile effort at the Cape. Construction was underway in February 1984, and the complex was ordnance-certified in November 1986. Complex 46 supported the Cape's first Trident II test missile launch on 15 January 1987. Eighteen more Trident IIs were launched from the site between 17 March 1987 and 27 January 1989. As Trident launch operations moved out to sea later in 1989, the complex was placed on standby status awaiting special Trident II test requirements. No new requirements surfaced in the 1990s, but the Spaceport Florida Authority (SFA) won $4,890,000 in Air Force grants to redesign Complex 46 to handle small commercial space launch operations (e.g., Lockheed Martin's new LMLV-2 space launch vehicle).

Cape Canaveral LC47.

  • Loki, Rocketsonde launch complex. Complex 47 was used to support weather rocket launches at the Cape. In March 1984, weather rocket operations were relocated from Complex 43 to Complex 47 to make room for the construction of Complex 46. In addition to weather rocket launches, Complex 47 was designated part of Spaceport Florida and supported the commercial launch of a single-stage solid rocket (LOFT-1) in November 1988. The site also supported a student suborbital launch of a Super Loki weather rocket in October 1992.

Cape Canaveral LC4A.

  • Bomarc launch complex. This complex was built to support the Bomarc interceptor missile program, but also supported Bumper, Jason, Redstone, X-17 and Polaris ballistic missile operations. The Air Force accepted Complex 4 in 1952. Following the last Bomarc launch in April 1960, some Bomarc support facilities were converted into a medical support area for Project Mercury. Later the complex supported tethered aerostat programs from 1983 through 1989.

Cape Canaveral LC5.

  • Redstone, Jupiter launch complex. Pad 5 supported its first Jupiter A launch on 19 July 1956. In addition to Redstone and Jupiter launches, the complex supported Explorer and Pioneer missions and all six Redstone /Mercury suborbital flights. On 31 January 1964, Complexes 5 and 6 were reassigned to become part of the USAF Space Museum.

Cape Canaveral LC6.

  • Redstone, Jupiter launch complex. Pad 6 supported its first Redstone launch on 20 April 1955, three months before the complex was finally accepted by the U.S. Government. In addition to Redstone and Jupiter launches, the complex supported Explorer and Pioneer missions and all six Redstone /Mercury suborbital flights. On 31 January 1964, Complexes 5 and 6 were reassigned to become part of the USAF Space Museum.

Cape Canaveral LC9.

  • Navaho launch complex. The complex was built to support the Navaho winged intercontinental missile program. The Air Force accepted both sites 9 and 10 on 29 June 1956. Complex 9 and 10 supported its first Navaho launch on 6 November 1956. In all, 11 Navaho XSM-64 vehicles were launched from the sites. Both complexes were demolished in 1959 to make room for Minuteman complexes 31 and 32.

Cape Canaveral RW15/33.

  • Shuttle Landing Facility, NASA Kennedy Space Center

Cape Canaveral RW30/12.

  • Navaho, Matador launch complex. Skid Strip, Cape Canaveral Air Station

Cape Canaveral SLC17.

  • Cape Canaveral SLC17

Cape Canaveral SLC41.

  • Cape Canaveral SLC41

Cape Karikari.

  • Sounding rocket launch location known to have been used for 7 launches in 1965, reaching up to 88 kilometers altitude.

Cape Karikari L1.

  • Arcas launch complex. Launcher 1

Cape Karikari L2.

  • Arcas launch complex. Launcher 2

Cape Parry.

  • Sounding rocket launch location known to have been used for 18 launches from 1969 to 1982, reaching up to 662 kilometers altitude.

Cape York.

  • Seriously studied and proposed as an Australian near-equatorial launch site for the Ukrainian Zenit-3 launch vehicle in the early 1990's. The Sea Launch alternative was pursued instead.

CAPRICORN.

  • American military communications satellite. One launch, 1998.01.29, USA 137. There was no firm information on this classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Capricorno.

  • Spanish all-solid orbital launch vehicle. Small all-solid-propellant launch vehicle pursued by Spain in 1992-1999. Cancelled in 2000 before any flights could be made.

Capsule.

CARA.

  • Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica

CARDE.

  • Canadian Armament and Research Development Establishment, Canada.

Cardiologist Group - 1977.

  • Requirement: physician for Salyut space station missions.

Carey.

  • Carey, Duane Gene 'Digger' (1957-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-109.

Cargo Lander Reference Version 1.

  • American manned Mars lander. Study 1993.

Cargo Lander Reference Version 3.

  • American manned Mars lander. Study 1993. The second version of the NASA Cargo Lander for the design reference mission 3.0 was similar in concept to the first but mass was reduced nearly 30% by a thorough study and scrub of each element.

Cargo Launch Vehicle.

  • Alternate designation for Ares V heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle.

Cargo LV Stage 1.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 1,093,330/88,449 kg. Thrust 10,441.06 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 452 seconds. Core vehicle proposed by NASA for Project Constellation exploration of moon and Mars. Originally it would use shuttle external tank tooling. This version was proposed by Thiokol prior to Constellation decision. Modification of shuttle external tank. Includes 28.6 tonne SSME engine pod.

Cargo LV Stage 2.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 227,036/19,343 kg. Thrust 2,442.07 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 451 seconds. Trans-lunar injection stage proposed by NASA for Project Constellation exploration of moon and Mars. It would use shuttle external tank tooling. All masses estimated.

Carlo Gavazzi.

  • Italian manufacturer of spacecraft. Carlo Gavazzi Space, Italy.

Carnarvon.

  • Location of a major NASA tracking station. Sounding rocket launch locations nearby were known to have been used for 12 launches from 1964 to 1965, reaching up to 120 kilometers altitude.

Carnarvon CARN.

  • HAD launch complex. T

Carnarvon CARN2.

  • HAD launch complex. Carnarvon north site

Carnegie Mellon.

  • American manufacturer of spacecraft. Carnegie Mellon, USA.

Carpenter.

  • Carpenter, Malcolm Scott (1925-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on Mercury MA-7, but left NASA under a cloud after running out of propellant on his mission and splashing down 'way down range.

Carr.

  • Carr, Gerald Paul 'Gerry' (1932-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on Skylab 4.

Carretto.

  • Carretto, Joseph Anthony Jr (1957-) American engineer military spaceflight engineer astronaut, 1985-1988.

Carter.

  • Carter, Dr Manley Lanier Jr 'Sonny' (1947-1991) American physician mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-33. Grew up in Warner Robins, Georgia. Died in the crash of a commercial airliner while on NASA business travel.

Carter, Jimmy.

  • Carter, Jimmy (1924-) American Politician. Jimmy Carter was president of the United States between 1977 and 1981. Previously he had been a naval officer and businessman before entering politics. He entered politics in the Georgia State Legislature

Carvalho, Benoliel.

  • Carvalho Benoliel, Jose Augusto Brazilian geologist mission specialist astronaut, 1998-1998. Captain, Brazilian Air Force. Candidate from Brazil as a NASA Mission Specialist. At the time of his selection 41 years old. Mission later cancelled.

CAS.

  • Cooperative Applications Satellite (CAS-A was Eole)

CAS.

  • Chinese manufacturer of spacecraft. China Academy of Science, Beijing, China.

CASA.

  • Spanish manufacturer of spacecraft. Construcciones Aeronauticas SA, Madrid, Spain.

CASC.

  • Second name of SISE

CASC.

  • Second name of CALT

CASC.

CASC.

  • Second name of CAST

CASC.

CASC.

  • Chinese manufacturer of spacecraft. China Aerospace Corporation, China.

CASDN.

  • French agency. Comité d'Action Scientifique de Défense Nationale, France.

Case for Mars II.

  • American manned Mars expedition. Study 1984. The Case for Mars II Mars expedition plan was presented at a conference on 10-14 July 1984.

Case Western.

  • Case Western.

Casey.

  • Casey, William (1913-1987) American intelligence officer. CIA Chief under Reagan, 1981-1987. Oversaw massive increase in CIA budget, including that for space activities.

Casper.

  • Casper, John Howard (1943-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-36, STS-54, STS-62, STS-77. Grew up in Gainesville, Georgia, son of an Air Force officer. Flew 229 combat missions in Vietnam.

Casserino.

  • Casserino, Frank James (1955-) American engineer military spaceflight engineer astronaut, 1979-1985.

Cassidy.

  • Cassidy, Christopher John 'Chris' (1970-) American engineer mission specialist astronaut, 2004-on.

Cassini.

  • American outer planets probe. 2 launches, 1997.10.15 (Cassini) and (Huygens). The Cassini spacecraft was a scientific platform designed to perform an in-depth study of the Saturnian system.

Cassino.

  • Sounding rocket launch location known to have been used for 27 launches in 1966, reaching up to 297 kilometers altitude.

CAST.

  • Chinese manufacturer of spacecraft. China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing, China.

Castenholtz.

  • Castenholtz, Daniel D American engineer. Manager of J-2 engine development at Rocketdyne.

Castor.

  • American suborbital launch vehicle. Single stage version.

Castor (A).

  • Argentinan sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 4 x Canopus + 1 x Canopus

Castor 1.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 3,852/535 kg. Thrust 286.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 247 seconds.

Castor 120.

  • Thiokol solid rocket engine. 1650 kN. Isp=280s. Motor similar in size to the Peacekeeper missile stage 1 motor; filled the gap between Castor 4A and the large segmented motors. First flight 1989.

Castor 2.

  • Alternate designation for TX-354-3 Solid rocket engine.

Castor 2.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 4,424/695 kg. Thrust 258.92 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 262 seconds.

Castor 2R.

  • American suborbital launch vehicle. 2 stage vehicle version of 2 x Recruit + 1 x Castor

Castor 30.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage developed for use on space launch vehicles.

Castor 4.

  • Thiokol solid rocket engine family. Series of motors used as Delta strap-on boosters and as first and upper stages for low-cost all-solid-propellant designs.

Castor 4.

  • Thiokol solid rocket engine. 407.2 kN. Series of motors used as Delta strap-on boosters and as first and upper stages for low-cost all-solid-propellant designs. Isp=261s. First flight 1975.

Castor 4.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 10,534/1,269 kg. Thrust 407.21 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 261 seconds.

Castor 4A.

  • Thiokol solid rocket engine. 478.3 kN. Out of production. Isp=266s. Castor 4A improved Delta performance by 11% by replacing the old fuel with HTPB propellant. Used in Delta 6900; Atlas IIAS; Castor 4A. First flight 1982.

Castor 4A.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 11,743/1,529 kg. Thrust 478.31 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 266 seconds.

Castor 4AXL.

  • Thiokol solid rocket engine. 599.8 kN. In production. Isp=269s. Strap-on booster version, first tested May 1992. Its 30% performance increase would improve performance of Atlas and other vehicles. First flight 2001.

Castor 4B.

  • Alternate designation for Castor 4BXL Solid rocket engine.

Castor 4B.

  • American sounding rocket. Single stage vehicle. First launch 1996.07.15.

Castor 4B.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 11,400/1,400 kg. Thrust 430.61 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 281 seconds. Optimized for high altitude (Conestoga)

Castor 4B.

  • Thiokol solid rocket engine. 430.6 kN. Out of production. The Castor 4B, which incorporated thrust vector control in the series for the first time, was developed for ESA's Maxus (first flown in 1991). Isp=281s. First flight 1982.

Castor 4BXL.

  • Thiokol solid rocket engine. 429 kN. In Production. Isp=267s. ORBEX version, combined the 4XL motor with 4B's TVC system (6 degree).

Castor 4XL.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 15,400/2,500 kg. Thrust 745.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 283 seconds. Provides supplemental thrust for H-2 or H-2A.

Castor Lance.

  • American sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Castor + 1 x Lance

Castor Lance-2.

  • Solid rocket stage. 227.00 kN (51,032 lbf) thrust. Mass 800 kg (1,764 lb).

Castor-M57A1.

  • Alternate designation for ait-2 target missile.

Castor-Orbus.

  • American sounding rocket. Vehicle consisting 1 x Castor + 1 x Orbus 1, sometimes augmented with a Recruit booster stage.

Castor-Recruit.

  • American sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Castor + 1 x Recruit

CAT.

  • European technology satellite. 5 launches, 1979.12.24 (CAT 1) to 1981.12.20 (Tech. capsule).

CATIC.

  • Chinese manufacturer. CATIC, China.

CATS.

  • Cheap Access To Space

Cattaneo.

  • Cattaneo, Ettore Italian pilot. Rocketplane pioneer

CBERS.

  • Manufacturer's designation for ZY earth land resources satellite.

CBS.

  • Columbia Broadcasting System

cc.

  • cubic centimeter(s)

CCAFS.

  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

CCD.

  • Charge-Coupled Device

CCDS.

  • Centers for the Commercial Development of Space

CCP.

  • Contract change proposal

CCTV.

  • Closed circuit television

CD Module.

  • Notional lox/lh2 rocket engine. 7361 kN. Study 1969. Isp=420s. CD Modules - conceptual engines of various thrusts, according to design - were clustered in Martin Marietta Nova designs

CDDP.

  • Canadian Department of Defence Production

CDR.

  • Commander, spelled out C-D-R when spoken

CD-ROM.

  • Compact Disc Read-Only Memory

CD-ROM!.

  • The Encyclopedia Astronautica is not available on CD-ROM...

CDS.

  • American communications technology satellite. One launch, 1993.02.09, Orbcomm OXP-1. Experimental spacecraft.

CEA.

  • CEA.

CECOM.

  • US Army Communications/Electronics Command, Ft Monmouth, USA

Celebrating Gagarin's Anniversary.

  • James Oberg remembers Yuri

Celestis.

  • American burial-in-space service.

Celestis.

  • American burial satellite. 4 launches, 1998.02.10 (Celestis-02) to 2008.08.03 (Celestis-4). Celestis offers the loved ones of the space-smitten deceases the opportunity to have (a portion) of their cremains put into orbit.

CELPA.

  • Sounding rocket launch location known to have been used for 92 launches from 1962 to 1974, reaching up to 406 kilometers altitude.

Celsius AB.

  • Celsius AB.

Cenker.

  • Cenker, Robert Joseph Jr (1948-) American engineer payload specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-61-C.

Centaur B-X.

  • American space tug. Study 2000. Upper stage / space tug - in development 1998, not put into production.

Centaur B-X.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 19,138/2,358 kg. Thrust 186.80 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 470 seconds. Conceptual design. Not put into production.

Centaur C.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 15,600/1,996 kg. Thrust 133.45 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 425 seconds. The first high-energy liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen propellant stage in history. Despite initial development problems, the Centaur is entering its sixth decade of development and production.

Centaur C.

  • American space tug. 22 launches, (1961) to (1967). Upper stage / space tug - out of production.

Centaur C-X.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 19,138/2,358 kg. Thrust 110.80 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 450 seconds. Conceptual design. Not put into production.

Centaur C-X.

  • American space tug. Study 2001. Upper stage / space tug - in development 1998, not put into production.

Centaur D/E.

  • American space tug. 56 launches, (1967) to (1983). Upper stage / space tug - out of production. Launched by Atlas Centaur D; Titan 3E.

Centaur D/E.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 16,258/2,631 kg. Thrust 131.22 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 444 seconds.

Centaur G.

  • American space tug. 22 launches, (1989) to (1998). Upper stage / space tug - out of production. Centaur for Titan 4

Centaur G.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 23,880/2,775 kg. Thrust 146.80 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 444 seconds. Centaur for Titan 4

Centaur G Prime.

  • American space tug. Cancelled 1987. Upper stage / space tug - out of production. Centaur for Shuttle payload bay. Cancelled after Challenger disaster on safety grounds.

Centaur G Prime.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 19,501/3,000 kg. Thrust 146.80 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 444 seconds. Centaur for Shuttle payload bay. Cancelled after Challenger disaster on safety grounds.

Centaur G STS.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 16,327/2,600 kg. Thrust 146.80 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 444 seconds.

Centaur I.

  • American space tug. 18 launches, (1984) to (1997). Upper stage / space tug - out of production. Launched by Atlas I.

Centaur I.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 15,600/1,700 kg. Thrust 146.80 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 444 seconds.

Centaur II.

  • American space tug. 10 launches, (1991) to (1998). Upper stage / space tug - out of production. Launched by Atlas II.

Centaur II.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 18,833/2,053 kg. Thrust 146.80 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 444 seconds.

Centaur IIA.

  • American space tug. 48 launches, (1992) to (2002). Upper stage / space tug - out of production. Launched by Atlas IIA.

Centaur IIA.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 19,073/2,293 kg. Thrust 185.01 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 449 seconds.

Centaur IIIA.

  • American space tug. One launch, , 2000. Upper stage / space tug - out of production. Single-engine Centaur for Atlas IIIA.

Centaur IIIA.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 18,710/1,905 kg. Thrust 99.16 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 451 seconds. Single-engine Centaur for Atlas IIIA.

Centaur IIIB.

  • American space tug. One launch, , 2002. Upper stage / space tug - out of production. Dual-engine Centaur for Atlas IIIB.

Centaur IIIB.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 22,960/2,130 kg. Thrust 198.32 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 451 seconds. Dual-engine Centaur for Atlas IIIB. The Lockheed Martin manufactured Centaur IIIB upper stage is powered by two Pratt & Whitney RL10A-4-2 turbopump-fed engines burning liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The changes to Centaur for Atlas IIIB are a stretched tank (1.68 m) and the addition of the second engine.

Centaur V1.

  • American space tug. One launch, , 2002. Upper stage / space tug - in production. Single engined Centaur for Atlas V, powered by one Pratt & Whitney RL10A-4-2 turbopump-fed engines burning liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.

Centaur V1.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 22,825/2,026 kg. Thrust 99.19 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 451 seconds. Single-engine Centaur for Atlas V. Centaur is powered by either one or two Pratt & Whitney RL10A-4-2 turbopump-fed engines burning liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. For typical, high-energy mission applications, Centaur will be configured with one RL10 engine. Guidance, tank pressurization, and propellant usage controls for both Atlas and Centaur phases are provided by the inertial navigation unit (INU) located on the Centaur forward equipment module.

Centaur V2.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 23,050/2,250 kg. Thrust 198.40 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 451 seconds. Dual-engine Centaur for Atlas V. For heavy payload, low earth orbit missions, Centaur will use two RL10 engines to maximize boost phase mission performance.

Centaur V2.

  • American space tug. Study 2001. Upper stage / space tug - in production. Twin engined Centaur for Atlas V, powered by two Pratt & Whitney RL10A-4-2 turbopump-fed engines burning liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.

Centaure.

  • French sounding rocket. Two stage sounding rocket. The Belier I II, or III single stage sounding rocket was augmented by a Venus booster with 94 kg of solid propellant. The rocket was spin stabilised by small solid rocket engines on the four fins.

Centaure 1.

  • French sounding rocket.

Centaure 2A.

  • French sounding rocket.

Centaure 2B.

  • French sounding rocket.

Centaure 2B-2.

  • Solid rocket stage. 20.00 kN (4,496 lbf) thrust. Mass 300 kg (661 lb).

Centaure 2C.

  • French sounding rocket.

Centaure 2C-1.

  • Solid rocket stage. 44.00 kN (9,892 lbf) thrust. Mass 200 kg (441 lb).

Centre Interarmees d'Essais d'Engins Speciaux.

Centre Spatial Guyanais.

  • Alternate name for Kourou launch site.

Centrojet.

  • Aerojet Nitric acid/Amine rocket engine. R&D. Launch thrust 2.25 kN. Work begun June 1943. Torque to rotate the main shaft of the propellant pumps was developed by the canted engine nozzles themselves at the aft end of the shaft. Abandoned 1945.

CEPE.

  • American satellite. One launch, 1970.12.11. Cylindrical Electrostatic Probe Experiment (orbital experiment attached to Delta second stage)

Cernan.

  • Cernan, Eugene Andrew 'Gene' (1934-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on Gemini 9, Apollo 10, Apollo 17. Eleventh person to walk on the moon and last person to step off of the moon. Space speed record (11,107 m/s).

Cetus.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 50/10 kg. Thrust 4.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 230 seconds. Masses, specific impulse estimated.

CEV.

  • NASA's manned spacecraft for the 21st Century, a throwback to the Apollo capsule, a shuttle replacement with an uncertain future.

CEV.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2006. The Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) was NASA's planned manned spacecraft intended to carry human crews from Earth into space and back again from 2012 on.

CEV Andrews.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2005. The Andrews Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) design adopted NASA's preferred Apollo CM re-entry vehicle shape, but combined it with a mission module crew cabin to minimize the CEV's mass.

CEV Andrews MM.

  • American manned spacecraft module. Study 2005. The Andrews CEV mission module provided a pressurized cabin for use by the crew while in transit from the moon to the earth.

CEV Andrews OTV.

  • American manned spacecraft module. Study 2005. The Andrews CEV used a standard Orbital Transfer Vehicle for propulsion in low earth orbit or lunar transfer operations.

CEV Andrews RM.

  • American manned spacecraft module. Study 2005. The Andrews CEV Re-entry Module would be reusable and normally accommodate four crew. Six could be fitted in for the space-station ferry role.

CEV Boeing.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2012. Boeing's CEV consisted of a four-crew Apollo-type capsule, a service module, and a pressurized mission module.

CEV CM.

  • American manned spacecraft module. Study 2006.

CEV Draper MIT.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2012. The Draper-MIT CEV proposal was an 8-metric ton integral ballistic capsule.

CEV Lockheed.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2012. The Crew Exploration Vehicle first proposed by Lockheed was a lifting body with a total mass of 18 metric tons and a crew of four.

CEV Northrop.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2012. Northrop Grumman kept its CEV final proposal very secret, citing competitive concerns.

CEV Orbital.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2012. Orbital's nominal CEV was an Apollo-derived capsule. The CEV's service module would take the capsule from low earth orbit, to lunar orbit, and back to earth.

CEV Raytheon.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2012. Raytheon's CEV was a low L/D capsule, designed for three crew, sized so that an existing EELV Heavy could send it towards L1.

CEV SAIC.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2012. SAIC's notional CEV was a Soyuz-shaped aeroshell, enclosing a common pressurized module, and accommodating a crew of four.

CEV Schafer.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2012. Schafer proposed a lightweight 11 metric ton integral CEV, staged from L1.

CEV SM.

  • American manned spacecraft module. Study 2006. The Service Module of NASA's Crew Exploration Vehicle provided basic consumables, control systems, and sufficient delta-V for return of the CEV from lunar orbit to the earth.

CEV Spacehab.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2005. The final Spacehab CEV concept was a three-module spacecraft using a slightly enlarged Apollo command module for return of the crew to earth.

CEV Spacehab CM.

  • American manned spacecraft module. Study 2005. A 10% enlargement of the Apollo capsule, this re-entry vehicle provided the minimum volume for four crew to make re-entry from lunar distances.

CEV Spacehab SHM.

  • American manned spacecraft module. Study 2005. The Stowage/Habitation Module (SHM) provided generous living space for the crew during cislunar transit.

CEV Spacehab SM.

  • American manned spacecraft module. Study 2005. The Support Module (SM) could provide 2.3 km/s delta-V, enough for lunar orbit insertion and trans-earth injection. It also was the primary source for electrical power during the mission.

CEV t/Space.

  • Alternate designation for CXV manned spacecraft.

CF2/Hydrazine.

  • Oxidizer: CF2. Fuel: Hydrazine. Propellant Formulation: CF2/Hydrazine. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 1.5. Temperature of Combustion: 4,030 deg K. Density: 1.26 g/cc. Characteristic velocity c: 2,085 m/s (6,840 ft/sec). Isp Shifting: 345 sec. Isp Frozen: 321 sec. Oxidizer Density: 1.520 g/cc. Fuel Density: 1.008 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: 2.00 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 113 deg C.

CF2/LH2.

  • Oxidizer: CF2. Fuel: LH2. Propellant Formulation: CF2/LH2. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 6. Temperature of Combustion: 3,610 deg K. Density: 0.39 g/cc. Characteristic velocity c: 2,545 m/s (8,349 ft/sec). Isp Shifting: 410 sec. Isp Frozen: 401 sec. Oxidizer Density: 1.520 g/cc. Fuel Density: 0.071 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: -259 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: -253 deg C.

CFA.

  • Center For Astrophysics

CFC.

  • ChloroFluoroCarbon

CFF.

  • Columbus Free Flyer

CFHT.

  • Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope

CFTH-HB.

  • French manufacturer of rocket engines and rockets. CFTH-HB, France.

CG.

  • Center of Gravity

CGM-13A.

  • American intermediate range cruise missile.

CGM-13B.

  • American intermediate range cruise missile.

CGM-13B.

  • Air/Kerosene rocket stage.

CGM-16C.

  • Department of Defence Designation of Atlas C test vehicle.

CGM-16E.

  • American intercontinental ballistic missile. ICBM version

CGM-16F.

  • Department of Defence Designation of HGM-16F intercontinental ballistic missile.

CGRO.

  • (Arthur Holley) Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (was GRO)

CGS.

  • Carlo Gavazzi Space, Italy

CGWIC.

  • China Great Wall Industry Corporation

Chaffee.

  • Chaffee, Dr Roger Bruce (1935-1967) American pilot astronaut, 1963-1967. Killed in Apollo 1 fire on launch pad.

Chai Hongliang.

  • Chai Hongliang Chinese Pilot. Joined PLA in 1958. He was a PLAAF pilot when selected.

Chalet.

  • American military naval signals reconnaisance satellite. 6 launches, 1978.06.10 (Chalet 1) to 1989.05.10 (USA 37). Geosynchronous orbit signals intelligence satellite series that replaced Canyon. Also called Program 366 and Vortex.

Challenger.

  • American manned spaceplane. 10 launches, 1983.04.04 (STS-6) to 1986.01.28 (STS-51-L).

Chamber/single nozzle.

  • Notional lox/lh2 rocket engine. 13,231 kN. Study 1963. Isp=455s. Before moving to favored plug nozzle designs, Bono at Douglas considered having multiple combustion chambers exhaust into a single large nozzle to obtained Improved Specific Impulse.

Chamberlin.

  • Chamberlin, James A (1915-1981) Canadian-American engineer. Lead at Avro for fighters, 1945-1959. Lead positions at NASA, 1959-1970. Conceived modular design for Gemini and pushed its use for lunar mission. At McDonnell-Douglas 1970-1981; headed their shuttle bid.

Chamitoff.

  • Chamitoff, Gregory Errol (1962-) Jewish-Canadian engineer mission specialist astronaut. Flew on ISS EO-17-1, STS-134.

CHAMP.

  • German earth magnetosphere satellite. One launch, 2000.07.15. CHAMP was a geophysics research satellite operated by GFZ, Potsdam, to study the earth's magnetic and gravitational field.

Champine.

  • Champine, Robert A American test pilot. Flew the XS-1 # 2.

Chana.

  • Chana, William 'Bill' (1921-) American engineer. Part of the Atlas management team; worked in customer support and marketing.

Chandra.

  • American x-ray astronomy satellite. One launch, 1999.07.23.

Chandraayan.

  • Indian lunar orbiter. One launch, 2008.10.22. First Indian lunar orbiter. It released the MIP impactor.

Chang Cheng 1.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 57,000/30,000 kg. Thrust 490.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 230 seconds. All characteristics except dimensions estimated, on assumption that stage used same propulsion systems as Shanghai upper stage.

Chang Cheng 1.

  • Chinese winged orbital launch vehicle. The Chang Cheng 1 (Great Wall 1) vertical takeoff / horizontal landing two-stage space shuttle was a compromise design created jointly by Shanghai Astronautics Bureau 805 (now the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology) and Institute 604 of the Air Ministry in 1988. An expendable booster, consisting of three of Shanghai's planned liquid oxygen/kerosene modular boosters, would boost the winged second stage shuttle to a high altitude. The engines of the winged shuttle stage would take it to orbit. This approach would allow a first flight to be made in 2008.

Chang Cheng 1.

  • Chinese manned spaceplane. Study 1988. Vertical takeoff / horizontal landing two-stage compromise design; three expendable liquid oxygen/kerosene modular boosters and a winged reusable second stage.

Chang Zheng 1.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-1 orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 1D.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-1D orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 2A.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-2A orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 2C.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-2C orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 2C-III/SD.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-2C-SD orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 2D.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-2D orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 2E.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-2E orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 2F.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-2F orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 3.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-3 orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 3A.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-3A orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 3B.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-3B orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 4.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-4A orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 4B.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-4B orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng 4C.

  • Alternate designation for CZ-4C orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng Next Generation Launch Vehicle Type A.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-NGLV-522-HO orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng Next Generation Launch Vehicle Type B.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-NGLV-504-HO orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng Next Generation Launch Vehicle Type C.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-NGLV-540-HO orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng Next Generation Launch Vehicle Type D.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-NGLV-504 orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng Next Generation Launch Vehicle Type E.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-NGLV-522 orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng Next Generation Launch Vehicle Type F.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-NGLV-540 orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-1.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-1 orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-1C.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-1C orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-1D.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-1D orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-1M.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-1M orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-2A.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-2A orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-2C.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-2C orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-2C/SD.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-2C-SD orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-2D.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-2D orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-2E.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-2E orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-2E(A).

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-2E(A) orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-2F.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-2F orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-3.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-3 orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-3A.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-3A orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-3B.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-3B orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-3B(E).

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-3B(A) orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-3C.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-3C orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-4A.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-4A orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-4B.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-4B orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-4C.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-4C orbital launch vehicle.

Chang Zheng-5-2.25.

  • Manufacturer's designation for CZ-NGLV-200 orbital launch vehicle.

Chang-Diaz.

  • Chang-Diaz, Dr Franklin Ramon (1950-) Costa Rican-American physicist mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-61-C, STS-34, STS-46, STS-60, STS-75, STS-91, STS-111. Held record of seven spaceflights.

Chang'e.

  • Chinese unmanned lunar orbiter. Two launched, 2007.10.24 and 2010.10.01. Originally announced in March 2003 with the first spacecraft to reach the moon by the end of 2005.

Chantilly.

  • American manufacturer. Chantilly, Chantilly, Virginia, USA.

Chapman.

  • Chapman, Philip Kenyon (1935-) Australian scientist astronaut, 1967-1972.

Chappell.

  • Chappell, Charles Richard (1943-) American physicist payload specialist astronaut, 1985-1992.

CHARA.

  • Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy

Chariot.

  • Bell exotic LF2/Hydrazine rocket engine. 155.9 kN. Titan 3 upper stage. Developed 1960's. Engine developed for high-energy replacement of Titan 3 transtage in late 1950's / early 1960's. Not flown due to toxicity of propellants.

Charles.

  • Charles, Robert H (1914-) American bureaucrat who developed several disastrous contracting models for the US government. As assistant to NASA Administrator 1963-1965, developed Apollo contracts; as Assistant Secretary USAF 1965-1969, developed C-5 contract models.

Charlestown.

  • Sounding rocket launch site, used from 1965. One launch in 1991 reached 90 kilometers altitude.

Charyk.

  • Charyk, Joseph Vincent (1920-) Canadian-American engineer. Chief Scientist, USAF, and First Director, NRO, 1961-1963. Founder of geosynchronous communications satellite industry. Headed Comsat as President, CEO, Chairman, 1963-1985.

Chavez.

  • Chavez, Salomon E 'Sol' (1913-2001) Hispanic-American engineer. Atlas missile test supervisor, 1958-1973.

Chawla.

  • Chawla, Dr Kalpana (1961-2003) Indian-American engineer mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-87, STS-107. She perished with the rest of the crew of the shuttle Columbia on 1 February 2003.

Chechulin.

  • Chechulin, Petr Petrovich (1906-1971) Russian officer. Director of Nll-4 1951-1955 during early research on satellites.

Cheli.

  • Cheli, Maurizio (1959-) Italian test pilot mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-75. Was married to astronaut Marianne Merchez.

Chelkar.

  • Tactical missile site, known to have been used for 32 launches from 1958 to 1962, reaching up to 500 kilometers altitude.

Chelomei.

  • Chelomei, Vladimir Nikolayevich (1914-1984) Soviet Chief Designer 1955-1984 of OKB-52. Leading designer of cruise missiles and ICBMs. Fought for lead role in space launchers and manned spacecraft. Led work on UR-100, UR-200 ICBM's, Proton LV, Raketoplan, Almaz, TKS manned spacecraft.

Chelomei.

  • Russian manufacturer of rockets, spacecraft, and rocket engines. Chelomei Design Bureau, Reutov, Russia.

Chelomei Space Interceptor.

  • Alternate designation for LKS manned spaceplane.

Chemical engineer.

  • Category of persons.

Chemical Release Observation.

  • Alternate designation for CRO military strategic defense satellite.

Chemist.

  • Category of persons.

Chen Long.

  • Chen Long Chinese phantom cosmonaut. Phantom astronaut identified as first Chinese man in space in 2003. Mistranslation of Li Qinglong.

Chen Quan.

  • Chen Quan Chinese pilot taikonaut, 1998-on. Chen was a PLAAF regiment commander when selected. Chen was a PLAAF regiment commander when selected.

Chengdu Industries.

  • Chinese manufacturer.

Chertok.

  • Chertok, Boris Yevseyevich (1912-) Pioneering Russian guidance and control engineer, key member of Korolev's design team 1946-1992. Deputy Chief Designer 1956-1992, created Soyuz and N1 LV control systems. His frank biography is a key source for Soviet space history.

Chiao.

  • Chiao, Dr Leroy (1960-) American chemical engineer mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-65, STS-72, STS-92, ISS EO-10.

Chiba.

  • Japanese manufacturer of spacecraft. Chiba Institute of Technology, Chiba, Japan.

Chibis.

  • Russian anti-zero-G device, in use from 1971 (Salyut 1) to the ISS era.

Chick.

  • RO solid rocket engine. 60 kN.

Chidlaw.

  • Chidlaw, Benjamin (1900-1977) American officer. Deputy, Material Command, 1945-1949; commanded several USAF research and development organizations 1949-1955.

Chief Designer.

  • Category of persons.

Chief theoretician.

  • Category of persons.

Chiha-ri.

  • Sounding rocket launch location known to have been used for 1 launch in 1991, reaching up to 200 kilometers altitude.

Chilca.

  • Sounding rocket launch location known to have been used for 34 launches from 1974 to 1983, reaching up to 742 kilometers altitude.

Chilca PLOB.

  • Chilca PLOB

Childs.

  • Childs, Stuart Row (1923-2006) American test pilot. Flew the X-1B.

Chile.

  • Chile

Chilton.

  • Chilton, Kevin Patrick 'Chili' (1954-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-49, STS-59, STS-76.

China.

  • China

China.

  • The amazing history of rocket and space development in China.

China Aerospace.

  • China Aerospace Corp.

China ARMT.

  • China ARMT.

China Brazil Earth Resource Satellite.

  • Alternate designation for ZY earth land resources satellite.

China Group - 1996.

  • Requirement: two trainees to receive intense cosmonaut training in Russia and become instructors for China's astronaut training for the Shenzhou program.

China Group 1 - 1998.

  • Requirement: pilot astronauts for the Shenzhou program.

China Lake.

  • US Navy aviation ordnance and rocketry development and test center, in operation since 1943 as the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) .

China Lake G-2.

  • Project Pilot launch complex. Test Stand G-2

China Lake RW.

  • Runway, Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake

China Type E.

  • Alternate designation for Project 921 orbital launch vehicle.

ChinaOri.

  • China Orient Telecomms. Satellite Co, Beijing , China

Chinarev.

  • Chinarev, Avenir Alekseyevich (1927-) Russian officer. Major General, served 1956-1968 at 4-NII-MO, from 1968-1988 at 50 TsNII KS in ascending positions of responsibility. Conducted basic research that led to the designs and test requirements for a many spacecraft and boosters.

China's Space Activities.

  • The official short and long range plan for the Chinese Space Program as of November 2000.

Chinasat.

  • Chinese agency overseeing development of spacecraft. Chinasat, China.

ChinaSatCom.

  • Chinese agency. ChinaSatCom, China.

Chinastar.

  • Zhongxing and Zhongwei (Chinastar) communications satellites were orbited by China Orient Telecommunications Satellite Company, part of the Chinese telecommunications ministry. A combination of indigenous and foreign satellites are used. Zhongxing 1 to 4 were apparently some of the earlier DFH-2 and DFH-3 satellites (although more than four reached geosynchronous orbit). Zhongxing 5 was the former Spacenet 1.

Chinese ASAT.

  • Chinese military anti-satellite system. Study 2007. On 11 January 2007 a Chinese homing vehicle launched by a ballistic missile from Xichang intercepted and destroyed a Chinese FY-1C satellite at 850 km altitude.

Chinese EVA Suit.

  • Chinese space suit, operational 2008. Indigneous-design Chinese suit for extravehicular activity.

Chinese Lunar Base.

  • Chinese manned lunar base. Study 2025. Beginning in 2000, Chinese scientists began discussing preliminary work on a Chinese manned lunar base.

Chinese Manned Capsule 1978.

  • Chinese manned spacecraft. Study 1978. First public announcement of a Chinese manned program came in February, 1978.

Chinese Manned Space Program: Behind Closed Doors.

  • Ed Grondine's account of China's 'Long March' to an independent manned space capability.

Chinese Manned Spacecraft.

  • Category of spacecraft.

Chinese RLV.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. By the late 2000 a leading candidate for China's first reusable launch vehicle was a CALT-designed two-stage fully reusable rocket similar to the Kistler K-1.

Chinese Space Laboratory.

  • Chinese manned space station. Study 2012. The latest models displayed of the Chinese Space Laboratory show it to have a larger-diameter module, about 4 m in diameter, and a narrower module forward, about 3 m in diameter.

Chinese Space Suit.

  • Chinese astronauts have been shown training in a variety of space suits since 1978. The earliest suits resembled space shuttle EES suits. The 1998 flight suits, after a technology agreement with Russia, resembled Soyuz Sokol suits.

Chinese Supergun.

  • In January 1995 the Chinese army unveiled a 21 m long supergun capable of firing large artillery shells into South Korea and Taiwan. The gun could fire 85 mm shells over a 300 km range. Nothing further was heard of the weapon. Interestingly, China was one of the countries that retained Gerard Bull as a consultant in artillery design in the 1980's. It would seem that the supergun retained its military appeal as a psychological weapon or in anti-satellite applications.

Ching Feng.

  • Taiwanese short range ballistic missile.

Chio He AFB.

  • At 2230 hours, 14 December 2004, Taiwan's National Space Organization launched Sounding Rocket-4 from Pingtung's Chio He Base, carrying out secondary orbital scientific experiments. The NSPO was responsible for planning this particular scientific experiment; it commissioned the sounding rocket made by the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology to serve as the carrier. The plan was implemented in cooperation with scientific teams from National Central University and National Cheng Kong University.

CHIPSat.

  • American ultraviolet astronomy satellite. One launch, 2003.01.13. NASA's Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer (CHIPS) mission used the CHIPSat bus.

Chirkin.

  • Chirkin, Viktor Martynovich (1944-) Russian test pilot cosmonaut, 1979-1982.

Chirok.

  • Russian surface-to-air missile.

Chkalov Group 1 - 1987.

  • Requirement: test pilots for Buran spaceplane

Chkalov Group 2 - 1988.

  • Requirement: test pilots for Buran spaceplane

Chkalov Group 3 - 1992.

  • Requirement: test pilots for Buran spaceplane

Chkalov Group 4 - 1993.

  • Requirement: test pilots for Buran spaceplane

Chkalov Group 5 - 1995.

  • Requirement: replace losses in space test pilot group for Buran spaceplane

Chmielewski.

  • Chmielewski, Jerzy Polish Engineer. Polish engineer for underground defence construction.

Choson.

  • North Korean manufacturer.

Chretien.

  • Chretien, Jean-Loup Jacques Marie (1938-) French test pilot mission specialist astronaut. Flew on Salyut 7 EP-1, Mir Aragatz, STS-86. First French astronaut. Trained for missions under both US and Russian programs.

Christmas Island.

  • Asia Pacific Space Centre Pty Ltd was an Australian company that in 1997 planned to build and operate a commercial satellite launch facility (APSC) on the Australian Territory of Christmas Island. This was one of several schemes in the 1990's to move Russian launch vehicle operations to near-equatorial launch sites. However prior to the launch market collapse, insufficient backing was found to allow the plan to go ahead.

Christmas Island (Pacific).

chromosphere.

  • Layer of the solar atmosphere about 14,000 km (8000 naut. ml.) thick, which surrounds the Sun's visible surface (photosphere). It is best observable during an eclipse or other occultation of the solar disc.

Chrysler.

  • American manufacturer of rockets. Chrysler, USA.

Chung Shan Institute.

  • Taiwanese manufacturer. Chung Shan Institute, Taiwan.

Churkin.

  • Churkin, Anatoliy Vasilyevich (1925-) Russian engineer. General director and chief designer of the scientific research institute for sensor equipment 1981-1987.

Chusovaya.

  • Launch System of R-14U intermediate range ballistic missile.

ChuT.

  • Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan

Chwalczyk, Rudolf.

  • Chwalczyk, Rudolf (1908-) 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; Shop 55.

CIA.

  • Central Intelligence Agency, Langley, Virginia

CIA.

  • American agency. Central Intelligence Agency, USA.

CIA's National Intelligence Estimate 11-1-67.

  • Updated version of NIE 11-1-67, obtained by Peter Pesavento, with most earlier redactions removed.

CIA's National Intelligence Estimate of March 1967.

  • What did the US know about Soviet lunar plans? This annotated version of the CIA's National Intelligence Estimate of March 1967 compares what the CIA expected to happen with what the Soviets expected at the same time...

CIEES.

CIFETA.

  • Argentinan manufacturer. CIFETA, Argentina.

Cigli.

  • Base for 15 Jupiter IRBM's, 1962-1963.

CIM-10.

  • Department of Defence designation of Bomarc missile.

CIM-10A.

  • American surface-to-air missile. Also XIM-10, YIM-10.

CIM-10B.

  • American surface-to-air missile. CQM-10 drone version

CIM-10B.

  • Air/Kerosene rocket stage.

circadian rhythm.

  • A rhythm with a period of about 24 hours, applied especially to the rhythmic repetition of certain phenomena in living organisms at about the same time each day.

Circumlunar trajectory.

  • Category of spacecraft.

CIRRIS.

  • Cryogenic InfraRed Radiance Instrument for Shuttle

Cirrus.

  • Cirrus was a two-stage sounding rocket developed by the German Rocket Society in the late 1950's. All launches were made from Cuxhaven, and discontinued when the German government prohibited civilian rocket launches in June 1964.

Cirrus.

  • Cirrus was a two-stage sounding rocket developed by the German Rocket Society in the late 1950's. All launches were made from Cuxhaven, and discontinued when the German government prohibited civilian rocket launches in June 1964. The propellant was developed by the DRG and fabricated at Liebenau Company for Production of Chemical Materials (GmbH zur Verwertung chemischer Erzeugnisse Liebenau).

Cirrus B.

  • Alternate designation for Cirrus II sounding rocket.

Cirrus I.

  • German sounding rocket. Cirrus I could carry meteorological or biological payloads up to a speed of 1000 m/s and an altitude of 35 km.

Cirrus I.

  • DRG solid rocket engine. 5 kN.

Cirrus I-2.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded mass 100 kg. Thrust 5.00 kN.

Cirrus II.

  • German sounding rocket. Cirrus II could carry meteorological or biological payloads to a speed of over 1000 m/s and an altitude of 50 km. The first stage produced 1800 kgf and the second 508 kgf.

Cirrus II.

  • DRG solid rocket engine. 18 kN.

Cirrus II-1.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded mass 100 kg. Thrust 18.00 kN.

CIT.

  • Circumstellar Imaging Telescope

Civilian comsat store-dump.

  • Category of spacecraft.

Civilian surveillance radarsat.

  • Category of spacecraft.

Civilian surveillance satellite.

  • Category of spacecraft.

Claggett.

  • Claggett, Randy (-1973) American phantom cosmonaut. Fictional Apollo 18 mission commander who died on the lunar surface in Michener's novel Space and the resulting television mini-series.

Clark.

  • American earth atmosphere satellite. Cancelled in 1998 when overruns had reached 20% of original price and no end to development was in sight.

Clark.

  • Clark, Laurel Blair Salton (1961-2003) American physician mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-107. Physician. Perished in Columbia shuttle disintegration during re-entry.

Clarke.

  • Clarke, Arthur C (1917-2008) British writer. Leading science fiction writer, also wrote key books popularizing space travel in 1950's and 1960's. Created concept of geosynchronous communications satellite in 1946. Wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Clauser.

  • Clauser, Francis H (1913-) American aerodynamicist, at Douglas 1937-1946; Johns Hopkins, 1946-1960; Caltech 1969-1980.

CleanSweep III.

  • American test vehicle. Single stage vehicle.

Cleansweep IIIB-1.

  • Solid rocket stage.

Cleave.

  • Cleave, Dr Mary Louise (1947-) American ecologist mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-61-B, STS-30. Engineer.

Clegg.

  • Clegg, Robert Henry (1946-) American geophysicist payload specialist astronaut, 1990-1992.

Clementine.

  • American lunar orbiter. One launch, 1994.01.25. Clementine was jointly sponsored by BMDO and NASA as the Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE).

Clemson.

  • American manufacturer. Clemson University, USA.

Clervoy.

  • Clervoy, Jean-Francois Andre (1958-) French engineer cosmonaut, mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-66, STS-84, STS-103.

ClF3.

  • Chlorine trifluoride was another of the extremely reactive and toxic oxidisers tested in the United States in the late 1950's. As in the other cases, it was found that the handling problems and safety risks outweighed the performance benefits.

ClF3/Hydrazine.

  • Oxidizer: ClF3. Fuel: Hydrazine. Propellant Formulation: ClF3/Hydrazine. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 2.77. Temperature of Combustion: 3,895 deg K. Ratio of Specific Heats: 1.33. Density: 1.51 g/cc. Characteristic velocity c: 1,825 m/s (5,987 ft/sec). Isp Shifting: 294 sec. Isp Frozen: 281 sec. Mol: 23.00 M (75.00 ft). Oxidizer Density: 1.830 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -76 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: 12 deg C. Fuel Density: 1.008 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: 2.00 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 113 deg C.

ClF3/Hydyne.

  • Oxidizer: ClF3. Fuel: Hydyne. Propellant Formulation: ClF3/Hydyne. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 2.98. Temperature of Combustion: 3,710 deg K. Density: 1.43 g/cc. Oxidizer Density: 1.830 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -76 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: 12 deg C. Fuel Density: 0.860 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: -84 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 64 deg C.

ClF3/Kerosene.

  • Oxidizer: ClF3. Fuel: Kerosene. Propellant Formulation: ClF3/Kerosene. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 3.26. Temperature of Combustion: 3,505 deg K. Density: 1.41 g/cc. Characteristic velocity c: 1,575 m/s (5,167 ft/sec). Isp Shifting: 258 sec. Isp Frozen: 250 sec. Oxidizer Density: 1.830 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -76 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: 12 deg C. Fuel Density: 0.806 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: -73 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 147 deg C.

ClF3/UDMH.

  • Oxidizer: ClF3. Fuel: UDMH. Propellant Formulation: ClF3/UDMH. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 3.03. Temperature of Combustion: 3,760 deg K. Density: 1.38 g/cc. Characteristic velocity c: 1,715 m/s (5,626 ft/sec). Isp Shifting: 280 sec. Isp Frozen: 266 sec. Oxidizer Density: 1.830 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -76 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: 12 deg C. Fuel Density: 0.793 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: -57 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 63 deg C.

Clifford.

  • Clifford, Michael Richard Uram 'Rich' (1952-) American test pilot mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-53, STS-59, STS-76. US Army

Clinton.

  • Clinton, William J (1946-) American Politician. William J. Clinton became president of the United States in 1993. Previously he served as governor and attorney general of Arkansas.

Clipper.

  • Alternate designation for Kliper manned spaceplane.

Clipper Graham.

  • Alternate Designation of DC-X vtovl test vehicle.

ClO3F.

  • Perchloryl fluoride was another of the extremely reactive and toxic oxidisers tested in the United States in the late 1950's. As in the other cases, it was found that the handling problems and safety risks outweighed the performance benefits.

ClO3F/Hydrazine.

  • Oxidizer: ClO3F. Fuel: Hydrazine. Propellant Formulation: ClO3F/Hydrazine. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 1.42. Temperature of Combustion: 3,390 deg K. Density: 1.22 g/cc. Oxidizer Density: 1.430 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -146 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: -47 deg C. Fuel Density: 1.008 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: 2.00 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 113 deg C.

ClO3F/Hydyne.

  • Oxidizer: ClO3F. Fuel: Hydyne. Propellant Formulation: ClO3F/Hydyne. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 2.78. Temperature of Combustion: 3,290 deg K. Density: 1.22 g/cc. Oxidizer Density: 1.430 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -146 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: -47 deg C. Fuel Density: 0.860 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: -84 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 64 deg C.

ClO3F/Kerosene.

  • Oxidizer: ClO3F. Fuel: Kerosene. Propellant Formulation: ClO3F/RP-1. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 4.23. Temperature of Combustion: 3,675 deg K. Density: 1.25 g/cc. Oxidizer Density: 1.430 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -146 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: -47 deg C. Fuel Density: 0.806 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: -73 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 147 deg C.

ClO3F/MMH.

  • Oxidizer: ClO3F. Fuel: MMH. Propellant Formulation: ClO3F/MMH. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 2.67. Temperature of Combustion: 3,540 deg K. Density: 1.20 g/cc. Oxidizer Density: 1.430 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -146 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: -47 deg C. Fuel Density: 0.880 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: -52 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 87 deg C.

ClO3F/UDMH.

  • Oxidizer: ClO3F. Fuel: UDMH. Propellant Formulation: ClO3F/UDMH. Optimum Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 2.67. Temperature of Combustion: 3,595 deg K. Density: 1.17 g/cc. Oxidizer Density: 1.430 g/cc. Oxidizer Freezing Point: -146 deg C. Oxidizer Boiling Point: -47 deg C. Fuel Density: 0.793 g/cc. Fuel Freezing Point: -57 deg C. Fuel Boiling Point: 63 deg C.

Cloudsat.

  • American earth weather satellite. One launch, 2006.04.28.

Cluster.

  • European earth magnetosphere satellite. 4 launches, 1996.06.04 (Cluster F4) to (Cluster F4). The Cluster satellites were a series of sophisticated earth-observation platforms that were to be launched aboard the first Ariane 5.

Cluster 2.

  • European earth magnetosphere satellite. 4 launches, 2000.07.16 (Samba) to 2000.08.09 (Tango).

Cluster II.

  • Alternate designation for Cluster 2 earth magnetosphere satellite.

CLV.

  • Alternate Designation of Ares I heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle.

CLV Stage 2.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 160,000/16,000 kg. Thrust 2,333.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 465 seconds. Second stage originally proposed by Thiokol for launch of the CEV into low earth orbit. Also could be used as trans-Mars injection stage on the Cargo LV. Nominal single engine; alternatively 7 RL10-derived engines. All masses estimated.

CM.

  • Command Module (Apollo spacecraft)

CM Lunar Shelter.

  • Alternate designation for Apollo CMLS manned lunar habitat.

CMBR.

  • Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

CMC.

  • Command Module Computer.

CMCC.

  • Central Mission Control Centre (ESA)

CMG.

  • Control Moment Gyro.

CMIK.

  • North Korean manufacturer of rocket engines. Korea North, Korea North.

CNES.

  • French agency overseeing development of spacecraft. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, Paris, France.

CNES Group - 1985.

  • Requirement: French astronauts for spaceflights to Mir space station.

CNES Group 1 - 1985.

  • Requirement: French astronauts for spaceflights to Mir space station,

CNES Group 2 - 1990.

  • Requirement: French astronauts for spaceflights aboard Hermes spaceplane and to Mir and US space stations.

CNES Shuttle 1963.

  • French studies in the 1960's were supervised by the French Space Agency, CNES, and developed along two paths. Path 1 was a manned hypersonic booster stage, with upper stages coming in manned or unmanned variants according to the mission. Path 2 was more conservative, with either the Path 1 booster or an expendable booster launching a small re-entry vehicle - a 'Space Taxi'.

CNET.

  • French agency. Centre de R&D de France Télécom, France.

CNIE.

  • Comision Nacional de Estudios Espaciales (National Space Research Commission)

CNIE National Commission for Space Research (1961).

CNO.

  • Carbon-Nitrogen-Oxygen

CNR.

  • Italian agency overseeing development of spacecraft. CNR, Italy.

CNSA.

  • Chinese agency overseeing development of spacecraft. China National Space Agency, China.

CNSR.

  • Comet Nucleus Sample Return

CO+Air+N2+C2H5OH.

  • Mix of propellants to be heated by a gas dynamic laser in one Russian prototype.

COAS.

  • Crewman Optical Alignment Sight.

Coats.

  • Coats, Michael Lloyd 'Mike' (1946-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-41-D, STS-29, STS-39. Flew 315 combat missions in Vietnam.

Co-axial turboramjet.

  • Notional lh2-fuelled ramjet engine. 250 kN. Study 1985. Isp=1200s. Used on Sanger II launch vehicle.

Cobb.

  • Cobb, Geraldyne M 'Jerrie' (1931-) American pilot, holder of four aviation records, one of the Mercury 13 female astroauts proposed in 1961, but never entered training.

COBE.

  • American infrared astronomy satellite. One launch, 1989.11.18.

Cobra.

  • Pratt and Whitney lox/lh2 rocket engine. 4500 kN. Design 2003. Proposed as a long-life, moderate-to high-thrust, reusable booster engine that incorporated a safe, low-cost, low-risk, LH2/LOX single burner, using a fuel-rich, staged combustion cycle.

Cobra-BTV.

  • American test vehicle, part of the U.S. Navy's Bumblebee missile program that led to the operational Talos ramjet-powered surface-to-air missile in the 1950's.

Cocentino, Munaretto.

  • Cocentino Munaretto, Luiz Alberto Brazilian pilot Mission Specialist candidate, 1998.

Cockatoo.

  • The Cockatoo solid-propellant sounding rocket replaced HAD at Woomera in 1970, and consisted of a British Gosling I first stage and an Australian Lupus 1 second stage.

Cockatoo-1.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded mass 200 kg. Thrust 152.00 kN.

Cockrell.

  • Cockrell, Kenneth Dale 'Taco' (1950-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-56, STS-69, STS-80, STS-98, STS-111.

coffin-launched.

  • Category of missiles.

Cohen.

  • Cohen, Aaron American engineer, at NASA 1962-1992. Played important role in Apollo program, and later directed development of space shuttle orbiter from design to initial flight test.

Cold Gas.

  • Category of engines.

Cold Gas Thruster Module.

  • Parker Bertea nitrogen cold gas thruster. 0.111 kN. In Production. Isp=68s. Designed to provide triaxial attitude control for small launch vehicles. The module comprised three cold gas thrusters operated by integral independent solenoid valves.

Cold Lake.

  • Sounding rocket launch location known to have been used for 18 launches in 1990, reaching up to 90 kilometers altitude.

Cole.

  • American manufacturer of rockets. Cole, USA.

Coleman.

  • American manufacturer of rockets. Coleman, USA.

Coleman.

  • Coleman, Dr Catherine Grace 'Cady' (1960-) American materials scientist mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-73, STS-93, ISS EO-26. US Air Force engineer.

Collins.

  • Collins, Michael 'Mike' (1930-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on Gemini 10, Apollo 11. First space walk from one spacecraft to another.

Collins, Duncan.

  • Collins, Merwin Duncan (1902-1987) American engineer, son of a Pasadena street railway conductor, became head of Structural Design for the Atlas missile, who translated Charlie Bossart's weight-saving ideas and aims into practical and producible hardware designs.

Collins, Eileen.

  • Collins, Eileen Marie 'Mom' (1956-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-63, STS-84, STS-93, STS-114. US Air Force test pilot, first female shuttle pilot and first female spacecraft commander.

Colombia.

  • Colombia

Colorado.

  • American manufacturer of spacecraft. University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA.

Colorado State.

  • Colorado State.

Columbia.

  • American manned spaceplane. 28 launches, 1981.04.12 (STS-1) to 2003.01.16 (STS-107). Columbia, the first orbiter in the Shuttle fleet, was named after the sloop that accomplished the first American circumnavigation of the globe.

Columbiad.

  • Canadian manufacturer of rockets. Columbiad, Canada.

Columbus Attached Pressurised Module.

  • European manned space station module. Study 1985. The European Space Agency formally joined the American Space Station project in May 1985, but the negotiations between ESA and NASA were often difficult.

Columbus Man-Tended Free Flyer - MTFF.

  • European manned space station. Study 1986. In April 1986, Italy's Aeritalia finally proposed that the European Space Agency build a second free-flying pressurized module to be used with the Space Station.

Columbus Space Station.

  • European manned space station. Study 1984. The European Space Agency Columbus module began as an independent European space station but would up as an unflown module of the International Space Station.

Combat spacecraft.

  • Category of spacecraft.

Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite..

  • Alternate designation for CRRES earth magnetosphere satellite.

Combo Lander Mission.

  • American manned Mars expedition. Study 1998. During the spring of 1998, NASA conducted a special study to design a human Mars mission that could be accommodated for launch by three heavy-lift launch vehicles.

Comet.

  • Category of spacecraft.

Comet probe.

  • Category of spacecraft.

Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby.

  • Alternate designation for CRAF comet probe.

COMETS.

  • Alternate designation for Kakehashi communications satellite.

Comiso.

  • US base in the 1980's for 37 BGM-109G ground-launched cruise missiles. The launchers and missiles were withdrawn and destroyed under the INF Treaty with the Soviet Union.

Command Control Pressure Suit.

  • American space suit. This 1990 concept placed the avionics required for landing open-cockpit lunar landers or operating rovers or other spacecraft within the suit itself.

Command Module.

  • Alternate designation for Apollo CM manned spacecraft module.

Command Service Module.

  • Alternate designation for Apollo CSM manned lunar orbiter.

Commercial Group - 1993.

  • Requirement: ESA astronauts for flights to the Mir space station.

Commercial Titan 3.

  • American orbital launch vehicle. Commercial version of Titan 34D military booster. It differed in having a lengthened second stage and a 4 m diameter payload shroud to handle shuttle-class or Ariane-type dual payloads.

Common.

  • Common.

Communications.

  • Category of spacecraft.

Communications satellite.

  • Category of spacecraft.

Communications technology sat.

  • Category of spacecraft.

Communications Technology Satellite.

  • Alternate designation for CTS communications satellite.

Compass.

  • German technology satellite. One launch, 2008.04.28. Fachhochschule Aachen nanosat.

Composite Engineering.

  • American manufacturer. Composite Engineering, USA.

Composite Solid Propellants.

  • The detailed chemistry and development of composite solid propellants by Andre Bedard.

COMPTEL.

  • COMPton TELescope (on CGRO)

Compton Gamma Ray Observatory.

  • Alternate designation for GRO gamma ray astronomy satellite.

Computer scientist.

  • Category of persons.

Comsat.

  • American agency overseeing development of spacecraft. Comsat, USA.

Comstar.

  • US domestic communications satellites.

CONAE.

  • Argentinan agency overseeing development of rockets and spacecraft. Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

CONAE (1991).

Concept ICBM.

  • American orbital launch vehicle. The January 1951 design for the Atlas used seven main engines plus two vernier engines to hurl the 3600 kg nuclear warhead over a 9300 km range. CEP was optimistically estimated as 460 m.

Concord High School.

  • Concord High School.

Conditions of Use for Material from this Site.

  • Obtaining permission for use of materials from astronautix.com

Condor.

  • Argentinan intermediate range ballistic missile.

Condor.

  • Family of launch vehicles.

Condor 1.

  • Argentinan short range ballistic missile.

Condor 2.

  • Argentinan intermediate range ballistic missile.

Conestoga.

  • American low cost orbital launch vehicle.

Conestoga.

  • Family of launch vehicles.

Conestoga 1620.

  • American all-solid orbital launch vehicle. Four stage vehicle consisting of 4 x Castor 4B + 2 x Castor 4B + 1 x Castor 4B + 1 x Star 48V

Congo.

  • Congo

Congreve.

  • Congreve, William (1772-1828) British engineer. Artillery officer and inventor who greatly advanced the development of black powder rockets for miiltary purposes. His rockets were commonly used in the British Army in the first half of the 19th Century.

Conlon.

  • Conlon, Emerson W (1905-1996) American engineer. Directed development of the D-558 transonic research aircraft for the Navy. Later Chair of the Aeronautical Engineerng Department at Michigan, holding several USAF and NASA management positions on leaves of absence.

Conrad.

  • Conrad, Charles Peter Jr 'Pete' (1930-1999) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on Gemini 5, Gemini 11, Apollo 12, Skylab 2. Third person on the moon. Only astronaut to fly Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab. Commander of first successful space station mission.

Consolidated BQ-8.htm.

  • Alternate designation for BQ-8 intermediate range cruise missile.

Consolidated Vultee Aircraft (1943-1953).

Constan.

  • Constan, G N German-American NASA Engineer; as of November 1960 working for Von Braun as Chief, Technical Program Coordination Office at NASA Huntsville.

Contact.

  • Contact the Encyclopedia Astronautica

Contacting Astronauts and Cosmonauts.

  • Leads on getting in touch with astronauts.

Contel.

  • American agency overseeing development of spacecraft. Contel, USA.

Continental RPVs.

  • American manufacturer. Continental RPVs, USA.

Contour.

  • American comet probe. One launch, 2002.07.03.

Contracted Atlas.

  • American orbital launch vehicle. The 1954 design for the Atlas as contracted for by the Air Force used three main engines to power a 110 metric ton rocket able to send a 1400 kg nuclear warhead over a 10,200 km range. CEP was 3700 m. The missile actually delivered six years later would have the same dimensions and launch mass, but 63% more range and four times better accuracy.

control moment gyroscope.

  • A large and heavy gyroscope suspended by a two axis gimbal system. The outer gimbal axis is connected with the spacecraft through a torque motor, the inner axis is free to precess. By energizing the torque motor the spacecraft attitude can be controlled.

Convair.

  • American manufacturer of rockets, spacecraft, and rocket engines. Convair, USA.

Convair Project 7969.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 1958. Convair's proposal for the Air Force initial manned space project involved a large-scale manned space station. When pressed, they indicated that a minimum vehicle - a 450 kg, 1.

Convair Shuttlecraft.

  • American manned spaceplane. Study 1962. Convair concept for a winged shuttle vehicle, early 1960's.

convection.

  • Mass motions with a fluid (liquid or gas) resulting in transport and mixing of the components of that fluid. Thermal convection results from temperature differences within the fluid.

Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missile.

  • Alternate designation for AGM-86C air-to-surface missile.

Conventional ASAT.

  • American military anti-satellite system. Study 1978. In May 1978, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a priority list of potential Soviet target satellites for the MHV hit-to-kill ASAT then under development.

Cook.

  • Cook, Charles W American bureaucrat. Held management positions in the 1970's and 1980's in the Offices of the Secretary of the Air Force and Defense; ARPA; CIA; and industry.

Cook Islands.

  • Cook Islands

Cooper.

  • American manufacturer of rocket engines and rockets. Cooper Development Company, USA.

Cooper.

  • Cooper, Leroy Gordon Jr 'Gordo' (1927-2004) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on Mercury MA-9, Gemini 5. First American to spend over a day in space. High spirited, and reportedly denied an Apollo assignment.

Cooper, George.

  • Cooper, George American test pilot. Flew the X-4 # 2.

Copernicus.

  • Copernicus, Nicholas (1473-1543) Polish scientist. Developed and popularized the theory that the earth revolved around the sun.

Copper Canyon.

  • American manned spaceplane. Study 1984. DARPA program of 1984 that proved the technologies and concept for the X-30 National Aerospace Plane concept.

Copper Canyon.

  • American winged orbital launch vehicle. DARPA program of 1984 that proved the technologies and concept for the X-30 National Aerospace Plane concept.

Copper Canyon Phase 2.

  • Alternate designation for X-30 ssto winged orbital launch vehicle.

COPUOS.

  • United Nations Space Cooperation body

Cora.

  • European orbital launch vehicle. Cora was an experimental rocket to test the second and third stages of the Europa launch vehicle.

Coralie.

  • Alternate designation for Europa-2 rocket stage.

Cordoba.

  • Argentinan manufacturer of spacecraft. Instituto Universitario Aeronautico de Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina.

Corella.

  • Australian sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Gosling + 1 x Dorado

Coriolis.

  • American earth sea satellite. One launch, 2003.01.06.

Cornell.

  • American manufacturer. Cornell, USA.

corona.

  • The tenuous envelope of the Sun, beginning about 14,000 km (8000 naut. mi. ) above the solar surface and extending many millions of kilometers into space. The corona is visible only when the solar disc is occulted.

Corona.

  • Code name for KH-1 military surveillance satellite.

Coronie.

  • Sounding rocket launch location known to have been used for 4 launches in 1965, reaching up to 205 kilometers altitude.

Corot.

  • French visible astronomy satellite. One launch, 2006.12.27.

Corporal.

  • Popular Name of MGM-5A and MGM-5B short range ballistic missiles.

Corporal.

  • American short range liquid-propellant ballistic missile. The first American operational guided missile, deployed 1954-1964. Replaced by the Sergeant solid-propellant missile.

Corporal.

  • The first US long-range missile, evolved from a series of Army research rockets begun by Caltech in 1944.

Corporal.

  • Firestone Nitric acid/Aniline-Furfuyrl alcohol rocket engine. 89 kN.

Corporal E.

  • American short range ballistic missile. Experimental version of Corporal Missile

Corporal E.

  • Douglas/JPL Nitric acid/Aniline-Furfuyrl alcohol rocket engine. 89 kN.

Corporal E-1.

  • Nitric acid/Amine propellant rocket stage. Loaded mass 4,500 kg. Thrust 89.00 kN. Nitric acid/Aniline-Furfuyrl alcohol propellants.

Corporal Type 1.

  • American short range ballistic missile. First prototype of Corporal missile.

Corporal Type 2.

  • American short range ballistic missile. Second prototype of Corporal Missile

Corporal-1.

  • Nitric acid/Amine propellant rocket stage. Loaded mass 5,200 kg. Thrust 89.00 kN. Nitric acid/Aniline-Furfuyrl alcohol propellants.

Corsa A.

  • Japanese technology satellite. One launch, 1976.02.04. Japanese technology satellite.

Corson.

  • Corson, John J (1905-1990) American bureaucrat. Management at McKinsey 1951-1966. Conducted several studies on NASA-JPL relations.

COS.

  • European technology satellite. One launch, 1975.08.09. CERS/ESRO satellite, first European Space Agency satellite.

Cosmic Background Explorer.

  • Alternate designation for COBE infrared astronomy satellite.

Cosmic ray astronomy satellite.

  • Category of spacecraft.

Cosmonaut.

  • Category of persons who have been trained for spaceflight in Russia.

Cosmopolis 21.

  • Russian manned spaceplane. Mock-up unveiled in 2002. On 15 March 2002 Space Adventures unveiled the mock-up of their C-21 (Cosmopolis 21) spaceplane at Zhukovskiy Air Base, Moscow.

Cosmos 1100.

  • Planned manned single-orbit flight aboard the TKS space capsule during a series of two-TKS-launched-by-one-Proton flight tests. Flown unmanned due to inability to demonstrate two consecutive failure-free launches.

Cosmos 997.

  • Planned manned single-orbit flight aboard the TKS space capsule during a series of two-TKS-launched-by-one-Proton flight tests. Flown unmanned due to inability to demonstrate two consecutive failure-free launches.

Cosmos Mariner.

  • American manned spaceplane. Study 2004. X-Prize suborbital spaceplane concept of Lone Star Space Access, Houston, Texas.

Cosmo-SkyMed.

  • Italian military surveillance radar satellite. Constellation of four satellites launched 2007.06.08 - 2010.11.06.

COSPAS-SARSAT.

  • United Nations cooperative program for satellite detection of emergency beacons on earth.

Cost, Price, and the Whole Darn Thing.

  • Why the cost of a space launch vehicle has little if any relation to the launch price.

Costa Rica.

  • Costa Rica

COSTAR.

  • Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement

Countdown to the Launch of Shenzhou-5.

  • Log of events and links to information on China's first manned spaceflight

Courier.

  • American communications technology satellite. 2 launches, 1960.08.18 (Courier 1A) and 1960.10.04 (Courier 1B). Experimental communications.

Covert Space Denial.

  • Alternate designation for Apollo LM CSD manned combat spacecraft.

Covey.

  • Covey, Richard Oswalt 'Dick' (1946-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-51-I, STS-26, STS-38, STS-61. Grew up in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, son of an Air Force officer. Flew 339 combat missions during two tours in Southeast Asia

Coyote.

  • American sounding rocket.

CPAC.

  • American burial satellite. One launch, 1997.04.21, Celestis.

CPAC/Orion 38.

  • Manufacturer's designation for Celestis burial satellite.

CPMIEC.

  • Chinese manufacturer. CPMIEC, China.

CPRU.

  • Alternate designation for Otrag rocket stage.

CPSU.

  • Communist Party of the Soviet Union

CR.

  • Contractor report

CRA.

  • Italian agency. Centro Ricerche Aerospaziali, Italy.

CRAF.

  • American comet probe. Cancelled in the early 1990s. The CRAF spacecraft (Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby) was to have rendezvoused with the Comet Kopff and flown alongside the comet for at least three years.

Craigie.

  • Craigie, Laurence C (1902-1994) American test pilot. First American to fly a jet aircraft, the XP-59. After WW2 he directed Air Force research and development programs. USAF deputy chief of staff for development, 1951-1954. Retired 1955 after a heart attack.

crawler.

  • A large tracked vehicle also called Transporter. It is similar to machines used in strip mining operations. The vehicle moves on four double tracks and transports the Saturn V with the Skylab and mobile launcher, and also the Saturn lB, from the Vertical Assembly Building to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center.

CRB.

  • Capsule Review Board

CRCSS.

  • Australian manufacturer of spacecraft. Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems, Australia.

Creamer.

  • Creamer, Timothy John 'TJ' (1959-) American physicist mission specialist astronaut, 1998-on.

Creighton.

  • Creighton, John Oliver (1943-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-51-G, STS-36, STS-48. Grew up in Seattle, Washington. Flew 175 combat missions in Vietnam. Bachelor navy fighter pilot with a midnight blue corvette and a ski boat dubbed Sin Ship.

Crew Exploration Vehicle.

  • Alternate designation for CEV manned spacecraft.

Crew Lander Reference Version 1.

  • American manned Mars lander. Study 1993. The first version of the NASA Crew Lander for the design reference mission would land the crew and a Mars surface habitat on the surface near the previously-landed cargo lander.

Crew Lander Reference Version 3.

  • American manned Mars lander. Study 1996. The second version of the NASA Crew Lander for the design reference mission would land the crew and a Mars surface habitat on the surface near the previously-landed cargo lander.

Crew Launch Vehicle.

  • Alternate designation for Ares I heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle.

Crew Module.

  • Alternate designation for CEV CM manned spacecraft module.

Crew Transfer Vehicle.

  • Alternate designation for CTV manned spacecraft.

Crews.

  • Crews, Albert Hanlin Jr (1929-) American pilot astronaut, 1965-1969.

CRI.

  • Danish manufacturer of spacecraft. Computer Resources International, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Crippen.

  • Crippen, Robert Laurel 'Bob' (1937-) American pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-1, STS-7, STS-41-C, STS-41-G. Member of first crew to fly a winged spacecraft to orbit and back.

CRISP.

  • Cosmic Ray Ionization Program

Cristoforetti.

  • Cristoforetti, Samantha (1977-) Italian pilot mission specialist astronaut, 2009-on.

CRL.

  • Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories

CRO.

  • American military strategic defense satellite. 3 launches, 1991.04.28 (CRO-C) to (CRO-A).

Crocco Mars Flyby.

  • Italian manned Mars concept. Study 1956. Gaetano Crocco proposed trajectories for a Mars flyby required half the energy, one third the time, and only a single rocket burn, compared to the traditional Hohmann approach.

Crombie.

  • Crombie, Robert Buck (1954-) American engineer military spaceflight engineer astronaut, 1985-1988.

Crooks.

  • Crooks, James Wesley (1921-1983) American engineer. Inventor of the Atlas radio guidance system and the Azusa and Glotrac launch vehicle tracking systems.

Crosby.

  • Crosby, Harry American Test Pilot. Northrop Test Pilot

Crossbow.

  • American air-to-surface missile, development started in 1953. Program cancelled in 1957.

Crossfield.

  • Crossfield, Albert Scott (1921-2006) Hispanic-American test pilot, 1950-1960. First man to reach Mach 2; first Hispanic test pilot.

Crouch.

  • Crouch, Dr Roger Keith (1940-) American physicist payload specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-83, STS-94.

Crowley.

  • Crowley, John W 'Gus' (1899-1974) American engineer. Worked at Langley from 1921. NASA director of research from 1945 to 1959.

CRRES.

  • American earth magnetosphere satellite. One launch, 1990.07.25. Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite. Chemical release experiment.

CRS.

  • Italian agency overseeing development of spacecraft. Commissione Ricerche Spaziali, Italy.

CRT.

  • Cathode ray tube (video monitor)

cruise.

  • Category of missiles.

Crusader X.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2004. X-Prize suborbital ballistic spacecraft concept of Micro-Space, Inc of Denver, Colorado.

Cryogenic Upper Stage.

Cryosat.

  • European earth resources radar satellite. CryoSat carried a radar altimeter to acquire accurate measurements of the thickness of floating sea ice so that annual variations could be detected.

Crystal.

  • Code name for KH-11 military surveillance satellite.

CS.

  • Crew Station.

CS.

  • Medium-capacity Communications Satellite for Experimental Purposes, a spin stabilized geostationary communications satellite.

CS-1.

  • Japanese communications satellite. One launch, 1977.12.15, Sakura. This Medium-capacity Communications Satellite for Experimental Purposes was a spin stabilized geostationary communications satellite.

CS-2.

  • Japanese communications satellite. 2 launches, 1983.02.04 (Sakura 2A) to 1983.08.05 (Sakura 2B). Business communications. Launching organization NASDA (National Space Development Agency of Japan).

CS-3.

  • Japanese communications satellite. 2 launches, 1988.02.19 (Sakura 3A) to 1988.09.16 (Sakura 3B). To continue communications services provided by the communications satellite 2 (CS-2). To meet increasing and diversifying demands for communications.

CSA.

  • Canadian agency overseeing development of spacecraft. Canadian Space Agency, Canada.

CSAGI.

  • Special Committee for the International Geophysical Year (Russian abbreviation)

CSAT.

  • Combined systems acceptance test

CSC.

  • CSC.

CSD.

  • American manufacturer of rocket engines. Chemical Systems Division, USA.

CSICE.

  • Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center.

CSIST.

  • Taiwanese manufacturer. CSIST, Taiwan.

CSL-1.

  • Department of Defence Designation of CZ-1 orbital launch vehicle.

CSL-2.

  • Department of Defence Designation of CZ-2A orbital launch vehicle.

CSL-3.

  • Department of Defence Designation of CZ-3 orbital launch vehicle.

CSM.

  • Command and Service Module (Apollo spacecraft)

CSM Block I.

  • CSM Block I Development Diary

CSM Block I.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Block I

CSM Block II.

  • CSM Block II Development Diary

CSM Block II.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Block II

CSM Cockpit.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Cockpit

CSM Cockpit.

  • CSM Cockpit Development Diary

CSM Communications.

  • CSM Communications Development Diary

CSM Communications.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Communications

CSM Docking.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Docking

CSM Docking.

  • CSM Docking Development Diary

CSM ECS.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM ECS

CSM ECS.

  • CSM ECS Development Diary

CSM Electrical.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Electrical

CSM Electrical.

  • CSM Electrical Development Diary

CSM Fuel Cell.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Fuel Cell

CSM Fuel Cell.

  • CSM Fuel Cell Development Diary

CSM Guidance.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Guidance

CSM Guidance.

  • CSM Guidance Development Diary

CSM Hatch.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Hatch

CSM Hatch.

  • CSM Hatch Development Diary

CSM Heat Shield.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Heat Shield

CSM Heat Shield.

  • CSM Heat Shield Development Diary

CSM LES.

  • CSM LES Development Diary

CSM LES.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM LES

CSM Original Specification.

  • CSM Original Specification Development Diary

CSM Original Specification.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Original Specification

CSM Parachute.

  • CSM Parachute Development Diary

CSM Parachute.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Parachute

CSM RCS.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM RCS

CSM RCS.

  • CSM RCS Development Diary

CSM Recovery.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Recovery

CSM Recovery.

  • CSM Recovery Development Diary

CSM Simulator.

  • CSM Simulator Development Diary

CSM Simulator.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Simulator

CSM Source Selection.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Source Selection

CSM Source Selection.

  • CSM Source Selection Development Diary

CSM SPS.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM SPS

CSM SPS.

  • CSM SPS Development Diary

CSM Structural.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Structural

CSM Structural.

  • CSM Structural Development Diary

CSM Television.

  • Chronology of development of the CSM Television

CSM Television.

  • CSM Television Development Diary

CSQ.

  • Coastal Sentry Quebec tracking ship

CSS.

  • Australian agency overseeing development of spacecraft. Centre for Satellite Systems, Australia.

CSS Skywalker.

  • American manned space station. Study 2015. Commercial Space Station Skywalker was hotel entrepreneur Bigelow's concept for the first space hotel.

CSS-1.

  • Department of Defence Designation of DF-2 intermediate range ballistic missile.

CSS-10.

  • Department of Defence Designation of DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile.

CSS-2.

  • Department of Defence Designation of DF-3 intermediate range ballistic missile.

CSS-3.

  • Department of Defence Designation of DF-4 intermediate range ballistic missile.

CSS-4.

  • Department of Defence Designation of DF-5 intercontinental ballistic missile.

CSS-5.

  • Department of Defence Designation of DF-21 intermediate range ballistic missile.

CSS-6.

  • Department of Defence designation of DF-15 missile.

CSS-7.

  • Department of Defence Designation of DF-11 short range ballistic missile.

CSS-8.

  • Department of Defence Designation of M-7 short range ballistic missile.

CSS-9.

  • Department of Defence Designation of DF-31 intercontinental ballistic missile.

CSS-C-3.

  • Alternate designation for JL-1 submarine-launched ballistic missile.

CSS-N-3.

  • Department of Defence Designation of JL-1 submarine-launched ballistic missile.

CSS-N-4.

  • Department of Defence Designation of JL-2 intercontinental ballistic missile.

CSST-600.

  • Alternate Designation of M-9 intermediate range ballistic missile.

CSTC.

  • Consolidated Satellite Test Center (USAF)

CSU-2P.

  • American pressure suit, tested 1958. Developmental dual capstan partial pressure suit for altitude protection by Berger Brothers. Used pressure socks and double capstan for looser fit.

CSU-4/P.

  • American pressure suit, operational 1965. A bladder type partial pressure suit, with quick don, 8 sizes.

CSU-5/P.

  • American pressure suit, operational 1965. A modified bladder type partial pressure CSU-4/P suit with integrated wet suit.

CSXT.

  • CSXT solid rocket engine.

CSXT.

  • American manufacturer of rocket engines. Civilian Space eXploration Team, USA.

CSXT GoFast-1.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded mass 300 kg.

CTA.

  • Canadian technology satellite. One launch, 1992.10.22. Canadian Target Assembly; deployed from STS-52 10/22/92.

CTA.

  • American manufacturer of spacecraft. CTA, Inc. , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia, USA

CTBSC.

  • Chinese agency. China Telecom and Broadcasting Satellite Corporation, China.

CTIO.

  • Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory

CTPB.

  • Carboxy-terminated polybutadiene

CTS.

  • Canadian communications satellite. One launch, 1976.01.17. Canadian Telecommunications Satellite project. Only one spacecraft launched.

CTV.

  • European manned spacecraft. Study 2018. Proposed European manned spacecraft to shuttle crews to the International Space Station from 2018.

CTV CM.

  • European manned spacecraft module. Study 2018. Re-entry vehicle portion of the proposed European CTV manned spacecraft.

CTV-G-5.

  • Popular Name of Hermes A-1 tactical ballistic missile.

CTV-N-8.

  • Department of Defence Designation of Bumblebee STV test vehicle.

cu m.

  • cubic meter(s)

Cuba.

  • Cuba

Cuban AF.

  • Cuban AF.

Cubesat.

  • American low-cost nanosatellite bus. Used in dozens of launches, the first on 2003.06.30.

Cubic.

  • American manufacturer of spacecraft. Cubic, USA.

Cuckoo.

  • RO solid rocket engine family.

Cuckoo 4.

Cuckoo 4.

  • RO solid rocket engine.

Cuckoo IA.

  • Alternate designation for Zenit C-0 rocket stage.

Cuckoo IA.

  • RO solid rocket engine. 80 kN.

Cuckoo IB.

  • RO solid rocket engine. 80.9 kN.

Cuckoo II.

  • RO solid rocket engine. 36.5 kN.

Cuddeback Dry Lake DZ.

  • Air-launched rocket drop zone known to have been used for 1 launch in 1965, reaching up to 21 kilometers altitude.

Cuddeback Dry Lake DZ RW01/19.

  • Runway

CUFOS.

  • Center for UFO Studies

Culbertson.

  • Culbertson, Frank Lee Jr (1949-) American test pilot astronaut. Flew on STS-38, STS-51, ISS EO-3.

Culbertson, Philip.

  • Culbertson, Philip Edgar (1925-) American aerodynamicist. Managed development of the Atlas space launch version at Convair; then went to NASA, being General Manager at the time of the Challenger disaster.

Cunningham.

  • Cunningham, Ronnie Walter 'Walt' (1932-) American pilot astronaut. Flew on Apollo 7.

Cunningham, Stephen.

  • Cunningham, Stephen Lee (1945-) American physicist payload specialist astronaut, 1984-1986.

Curbeam.

  • Curbeam, Robert Lee Jr 'Beamer' (1962-) African-American test pilot mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-85, STS-98, STS-116.

Currie.

  • Currie, Nancy Jane nee Sherlock (1958-) American engineer mission specialist astronaut. Flew on STS-57, STS-70, STS-88, STS-109. US Army engineer.

Currie, Malcolm.

  • Currie, Malcolm R (1927-) American engineer. Joined Hughes in 1954, becoming a VP 1964-1969. After stints at Beckman and government, returned to Hughes in 1977, becoming CEO 1986-1992. Moved Hughes into DirecTV satellite-to-home business.

Curtiss-Wright.

  • American manufacturer of rocket engines. Curtiss-Wright, USA.

Cute.

  • Japanese technology satellite. 2 launches, 2006.02.21 (Cute 1.7) and 2008.04.28 (Cute-1.7-APD-II). Student subsatellites.

Cuxhaven.

  • As the only site in Germany with an unrestricted over-water firing sector over the North Sea, Cuxhaven was once touted as 'the Cape Canaveral of Germany'. Primarily known to space historians for the three post-war V-2 launches under project Backfire, it played an important role in the nascent post-World War II German rocketry. A nearly completely unknown series of scientific sounding rocket launches were made from the area in 1957-1964 before the launch site was closed on (purportedly) safety and (actually) military grounds.

CV.

  • Cataclysmic Variable

CW.

  • Continuous wave

CX-1.

  • Chinese communications technology satellite. 2 launches, 2003.10.21 (CX-1) and 2008.11.05 (Chuanxin-1-02).

CXBR.

  • Cosmic X-ray Background Radiation

CxHy.

  • Term for generic hydrocarbon fuels.

CXV.

  • American manned spacecraft. Study 2012. Crew Transfer Vehicle proposed by `t/Space and Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites for NASA's Crew Exploration Vehicle requirement.

Cyclone 3.

  • Popular Name of Tsiklon-3 orbital launch vehicle.

Cyclone 4.

  • Popular Name of Tsiklon-4 orbital launch vehicle.

Cygnus 15.

  • Thiokol solid rocket engine. 22 kN.

Cygnus 20.

  • Thiokol solid rocket engine. 30 kN.

Cygnus 5.

  • Thiokol solid rocket engine. 2.3 kN.

CZ.

  • China's first ICBM, the DF-5, first flew in 1971. It was a two-stage storable-propellant rocket in the same class as the American Titan, the Russian R-36, or the European Ariane. The DF-5 spawned a long series of Long March ("Chang Zheng") CZ-2, CZ-3, and CZ-4 launch vehicles. These used cryogenic engines for upper stages and liquid-propellant strap-on motors to create a family of 12 Long-March rocket configurations capable of placing up to 9,200 kg into orbit. In 2000 China began development of a new generation of expendable launch vehicles using non-toxic, high-performance propellants with supposedly lower operating costs. However these encountered development delays, and it seemed the reliable Long March series of rockets would continue in operational use for nearly fifty years before being replaced.

CZ.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. China's first ICBM, the DF-5, first flew in 1971. It was a two-stage storable-propellant rocket in the same class as the American Titan, the Russian R-36, or the European Ariane. The DF-5 spawned a long series of Long March ("Chang Zheng") CZ-2, CZ-3, and CZ-4 launch vehicles. These used cryogenic engines for upper stages and liquid-propellant strap-on motors to create a family of 12 Long-March rocket configurations capable of placing up to 9,200 kg into orbit. In 2000 China began development of a new generation of expendable launch vehicles using non-toxic, high-performance propellants with supposedly lower operating costs. However these encountered development delays, and it seemed the reliable Long March series of rockets would continue in operational use for nearly fifty years before being replaced.

CZ H-18.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 21,000/2,800 kg. Thrust 156.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 440 seconds.

CZ-1.

  • China began development of the CZ-1 (Changzheng-1 = Long March-1) launch vehicle in the second half of 1965. The project was undertaken with the specific objective of launching China's first satellite, the DFH-1. The CZ-l's first and second stages were adapted from those of the DF-3 intermediate range ballistic missile. The third stage used a new-design solid rocket motor.

CZ-1.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. China began development of the CZ-1 (Changzheng-1 = Long March-1) launch vehicle in the second half of 1965. The project was undertaken with the specific objective of launching China's first satellite, the DFH-1. The CZ-l's first and second stages were adapted from those of the DF-3 intermediate range ballistic missile. The third stage used a new-design solid rocket motor.

CZ-1-2.

  • Nitric acid/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 15,000/2,700 kg. Thrust 306.14 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 275 seconds. Masses, engine performance estimated based on successor improved stage and YF-2 engines in first stage.

CZ-1C.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. Proposed launch vehicle derived from the CZ-1, with a new upper stage. Never flown.

CZ-1C-3.

  • Chinese N2O4/UDMH rocket engine. 107.9 kN. Development ended 1988. Isp=287s. Used on CZ-1C launch vehicle.

CZ-1C-3.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 6,400/1,000 kg. Thrust 107.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 287 seconds.

CZ-1D.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. Proposed launch vehicle derived from the CZ-1, but with a new N2O4/UDMH second stage. Used for a suborbital re-entry vehicle test but never flown on an orbital mission.

CZ-1D-2.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 14,850/2,650 kg. Thrust 294.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 287 seconds.

CZ-1D-3.

  • Fourth Academy solid rocket engine. Out of production. Motor for proposed CZ-1D launch vehicle. Isp=291s. First flight 1995.

CZ-1M.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. Proposed launch vehicle derived from CZ-1, with an Italian Mage upper stage. Never flown.

CZ-1M-3.

  • Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 1,830/256 kg. Thrust 29.40 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 291 seconds.

CZ-2 Spaceplane Launcher.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. Tsien's manned spacecraft design proposed in the late 1970's was a winged spaceplane, launched by a CZ-2 core booster with two large strap-on boosters. It so strongly resembled the cancelled US Dynasoar of 15 years earlier that US intelligence analysts wondered if it wasn't based on declassified Dynasoar technical information.

CZ-2A.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The CZ-2 was originally designed for launch of the FSW-1 recoverable military reconnaissance satellite.

CZ-2C.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The CZ-2C was the definitive low earth orbit launch vehicle derived from DF-5 ICBM. It became the basis for an entire family of subsequent Long March vehicles. Many adaptive modifications were made to the configuration of the CZ-2A to handle a variety of new satellites and upper stages. The CZ-2C had improved technical performance and payload capacity compared to the CZ-2A, with later versions having a payload capability of 2,800 kg into a 200 km circular orbit.

CZ-2C/CTS.

  • Article Number of CZ-2C-SD orbital launch vehicle.

CZ-2C/SD.

  • On April 28, 1993, the Chinese Great Wall Industrial Corporation and Motorola signed a launch services contract for multiple launch of Iridium communications satellites using CZ-2C/SD launch vehicles. The main differences between the CZ-2C and the CZ-2C/SD were: a modified fairing with a diameter of 3.35m; a newly developed Smart Dispenser; improved second stage fuel and oxidizer tanks; and second stage engines with higher expansion ratio nozzles.

CZ-2C/SD-2.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 55,000/5,000 kg. Thrust 761.90 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 298 seconds. Stretched version of CZ-2C second stage. Empty mass estimated.

CZ-2C-1.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 153,000/10,000 kg. Thrust 3,295.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 291 seconds.

CZ-2C-2.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 39,000/4,000 kg. Thrust 761.90 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 295 seconds.

CZ-2D.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The Long March 2D was a two-stage launch vehicle with storable propellants, suitable for launching a variety of low earth orbit satellites. Developed and manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the CZ-2D had a typical payload capability of 3,500kg in a 200 km circular orbit. Its first stage was identical to that of the CZ-4. The second stage was essentially the same as that of the CZ-4, except for an improved vehicle equipment bay.

CZ-2E.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The CZ-2E added four liquid rocket booster strap-ons to the basic CZ-2 core to achieve a low earth orbit payload capability approaching the Russian Proton, US Titan, or European Ariane rockets. The Long March 2E had a maximum payload capability of 9,500 kg to low earth orbit.

CZ-2E(A).

  • Planned upgrade of CZ-2E with enlarged liquid boosters. Probably intended for launch of Chinese space station modules in the 21st century. Fairing was 5.20 m in diameter and 12.39 m long.

CZ-2E(A)-0.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 80,000/8,000 kg. Thrust 1,632.80 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 291 seconds.

CZ-2E-1.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 196,500/9,500 kg. Thrust 3,265.14 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 289 seconds.

CZ-2E-2.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 91,500/5,500 kg. Thrust 831.01 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 298 seconds.

CZ-2F.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. Man-rated version of CZ-2E, designed for launch of the Shenzhou spacecraft. Little difference externally. Modifications were related to improved redundancy of systems, strengthened upper stage to handle large 921-1 spacecraft fairing and launch escape tower. President Jiang Zemin gave the name 'Shenjian' ('Divine Arrow') to the CZ-2F after the successful launch of the Shenzhou-3 mission.

CZ-3.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The Long March 3 was a three-stage launch vehicle designed for delivery of satellites of 1,500 kg mass into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The first and second stages were based on the CZ-2C, and designed and manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. The majority of the technology and flight hardware used in the CZ-3 had been qualified and proven on the CZ-2C. The third stage, manufactured by CALT, was equipped with an LOX/LH2 cryogenic engine. Long March 3 was also capable of placing spacecraft into an elliptical or circular low earth orbit and sun synchronous orbit.

CZ-3-1.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 151,000/9,000 kg. Thrust 3,000.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 289 seconds.

CZ-3-2.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 39,000/4,000 kg. Thrust 761.90 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 295 seconds.

CZ-3A.

  • Chinese three-stage orbital launch vehicle. The Long March 3A, by incorporating the mature technologies of the CZ-3 and adding a more powerful cryogenic third stage and more capable control system, had a greater geosynchronous transfer orbit capability, greater flexibility for attitude control, and better adaptability to a variety of launch missions.

CZ-3A-1.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 179,000/9,000 kg. Thrust 3,265.14 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 289 seconds.

CZ-3A-2.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 33,600/4,000 kg. Thrust 831.01 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 297 seconds.

CZ-3A-3.

  • Chinese space tug. 11 launches, (1994) to (2000). Upper stage / space tug - in production. Launched by CZ-3A, CZ-3B, and CZ-3C.

CZ-3B.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The Long March 3B was the most powerful Long March launch vehicle. It could inject a 5,000 kg payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The CZ-3B was developed on the basis of the CZ-3A, but had enlarged propellant tanks, larger fairing, and four boosters strapped onto the core stage. The CZ-3B boosters were identical to those of the CZ-3A.

CZ-3B(A).

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. In February 1999 the China Great Wall Company announced it was developing more powerful Long March rockets using larger-size liquid propellant strap-on motors. The Long March 3B(A) would be available in 2002.

CZ-3C.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. Launch vehicle combining CZ-3B core with two boosters from CZ-2E. The standard fairing was 9.56 m long, 4.0 m in diameter. On August 23, 2001, the CZ-3C launcher passed its critical design review. CZ-3C development had begun in 1995 but was suspended in 1996-2000 due to the 1996 CZ-3B failure. First launch was in 2008.

CZ-4A.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The CZ-4 was developed and manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. Its first stage was essentially the same as that of the CZ-3 and the second stage was identical to that of the CZ-3. The CZ-4's third stage, however, was a development, featuring a thin wall common intertank bulkhead tankage and two-engine cluster with both engines gimbling about two perpendicular axes. The third stage engine cluster connected to the tank aft bulkhead through the engine bay. The CZ-4 had two payload fairing configurations: Type-A and Type-B. The CZ-4 was designed for launching satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits.

CZ-4A-1.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 192,700/9,500 kg. Thrust 3,265.14 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 289 seconds.

CZ-4A-2.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 39,550/4,000 kg. Thrust 831.01 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 295 seconds.

CZ-4A-3.

  • N2O4/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 15,150/1,000 kg. Thrust 100.81 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 303 seconds.

CZ-4B.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The CZ-4B introduced in 1999 was an improved model of the CZ-4B with an enhanced third stage and fairing. It measured 44.1 metres in length with a first stage thrust of 300 tonnes.

CZ-4B-2.

  • N2O4/UDMH rocket stage. 742.00 kN (166,808 lbf) thrust. Mass 39,600 kg (87,303 lb).

CZ-4B-3.

  • N2O4/UDMH rocket stage. 98.10 kN (22,054 lbf) thrust. Mass 15,200 kg (33,510 lb).

CZ-4C.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The CZ-4C, first flown in 2007, had an upgraded second-stage engine that could be restarted in space. The vehicle also had structural rings at the base of the first and second stages, an interstage weather cover,ejected at liftoff, and the larger payload shroud introduced on the CZ-4B. All of these indicated that the vehicle was designed to take larger payloads to higher, more precise orbits than the CZ-4B.

CZ-5-2.25.

  • Alternate Designation of CZ-NGLV-200 orbital launch vehicle.

CZ-5-3.35.

  • Alternate Designation of CZ-NGLV-320 orbital launch vehicle.

Czech.

  • Czech Republic, Czech Republic

Czech Republic.

  • Czech Republic

Czechoslovak AF.

  • Czechoslovak AF.

Czerney.

  • Czerney, Marianus German rocket expert during World War II, worked at Peenemuende. As of January 1947, living in Frankfurt/M, Robert Mayerstr. 2.

CZ-NGLV.

  • China's family of new generation expendable launch vehicles began development in 2000. Boosters of various capabilities would be assembled from three modular stages of 2.25 m, 3.35 m and 5.0 m diameter. These would be powered by new variable-thrust 120 tonne thrust Lox/Kerosene engines or 50 tonne thrust Lox/LH2 engines.

CZ-NGLV.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. China's family of new generation expendable launch vehicles began development in 2000. Boosters of various capabilities would be assembled from three modular stages of 2.25 m, 3.35 m and 5.0 m diameter. These would be powered by new variable-thrust 120 tonne thrust Lox/Kerosene engines or 50 tonne thrust Lox/LH2 engines.

CZ-NGLV-200.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The Long March New Generation Launch Vehicle series small launcher would use the 2.25 m diameter module as the first stage and a single upper stage of the same diameter (probably the existing YF-73 stage of the CZ-3). Payload was given as 1.5 tonnes into low earth orbit. First launch was expected after 2008. Although the configuration was not shown at the Wuzhai Air Show in 2002 it re-emerged at the FAI in 2003. It seemed to be in competition with the all-solid-propellant KT-1, KT-2, and KT-2A series.

CZ-NGLV-200.

  • Lox/Kerosene propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 69,000/6,000 kg. Thrust 1,340.17 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 336.3 seconds. From top to bottom the 2.25-m Chinese new generation launch vehicle consists of a 42.3 cubic meter liquid oxygen tank, an intertank section, a 22.0 cubic meter kerosene tank, and an engine section with one gimballed LOX /Kerosene engines of 1200 kN vacuum thrust. The oxygen tank is pressurised using oxygen bled from the engine and helium is used to pressurise the kerosene tank. The engines can be throttled to 65% of rated thrust. Burn time shown assumes full thrust during engine burn.

CZ-NGLV-300.

  • Lox/Kerosene propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 147,000/12,000 kg. Thrust 2,680.35 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 336 seconds. From top to bottom the 3.35-m Chinese new generation launch vehicle consists of a 90.7 cubic meter liquid oxygen tank, an intertank section, a 47.7 cubic meter kerosene tank, and an engine section with two gimballed LOX /Kerosene engines of 1200 kN vacuum thrust each. The oxygen tank is pressurised using oxygen bled from the engine and helium is used to pressurise the kerosene tank. The engines can be throttled to 65% of rated thrust. Burn time shown assumes full thrust during engine burn.

CZ-NGLV-320.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The Long March New Generation Launch Vehicle series medium launcher would use the 3.35 m diameter module and a new 3.35 m diameter second stage as the core vehicle. Either two or four 2.25 m diameter modules would be used as strap-ons. Payload to low earth orbit would be three tonnes with two strap-ons and 10 tonnes with four strap-ons.

CZ-NGLV-500.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 175,000/17,000 kg. Thrust 1,399.99 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 432 seconds. From top to bottom the 5-m Chinese new generation launch vehicle consists of a 117.3 cubic meter liquid oxygen tank, an intertank section, a 350.7 cubic meter liquid hydrogen tank, and an engine section with two gimballed LOX /LH2 engines of 660 kN vacuum thrust each. The hydrogen tank is pressurised using hydrogen bled from the engine and helium is used to pressurise the oxygen tank.

CZ-NGLV-504.

  • The 504 configuration for the Long March New Generation Launch Vehicle series would use the 5.0 m diameter core stage with four 3.35 m diameter stages as strap-ons. Payload was given as 25 tonnes to low earth orbit. A standard large 5.2 m diameter fairing tops the vehicle. It would be used to launch the Chinese Space Laboratory in 2010.

CZ-NGLV-504/HO.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The 504/HO configuration for the Long March New Generation Launch Vehicle series would use the 5.0 m core stage, topped by the 5.0 m upper stage, together with 4 x 3.35 m strap-on stages. First flight of this version was expected after 2010. Payload was given as 14 tonnes to geosynchronous transfer orbit.

CZ-NGLV-522.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The 522 configuration for the Long March New Generation Launch Vehicle series would use the 5.0 m diameter core stage with 2 x 2.25 m plus 2 x 3.35 m strap-on stages. Payload is estimated as 18-20 tonnes to low earth orbit.

CZ-NGLV-522/HO.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The 522/HO was the 'all up' baseline configuration for the Long March New Generation Launch Vehicle series. It would use the 5.0 m core stage, topped by the 5.0 m upper stage, together with 2 x 2.25 m plus 2 x 3.35 m strap-on stages. It was announced in 2003 that it would be first to fly, with a launch before the Beijing Olympics in 2008. It would be used for launch of large communications satellites. Payload is estimated as 10-12 tonnes to geosynchronous transfer orbit.

CZ-NGLV-540.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The 540 configuration for the Long March New Generation Launch Vehicle series would use the 5.0 m diameter core stage with four 2.25 m diameter stages as strap-ons. Payload was given as 10 tonnes to low earth orbit. A standard short 5.2 m diameter fairing tops the vehicle.

CZ-NGLV-540/HO.

  • Chinese orbital launch vehicle. The 540/HO configuration for the Long March New Generation Launch Vehicle series would use the 5.0 m core stage, topped by the 5.0 m upper stage, together with 4 x 2.25 m strap-on stages. First flight of this version was expected after 2010. Payload was given as 6 tonnes to geosynchronous transfer orbit.

CZ-NGLV-A.

CZ-NGLV-B.

CZ-NGLV-C.

CZ-NGLV-D.

CZ-NGLV-E.

CZ-NGLV-F.

CZ-NGLV-HO.

  • Chinese space tug. Study 2008. Upper stage / space tug - in development 2004. The upper stage for the Chinese Next Generation Launch Vehicle was a modification of the CZ-3B upper stage.

CZ-NGLV-HO.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 26,000/3,100 kg. Thrust 156.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 448 seconds. The upper stage for the Chinese Next Generation Launch Vehicle is a modification of the CZ-3B upper stage. The stage uses a version of the Lox/LH2 YF-75 engine, simplified for improved reliability. The stage is of hammerhead form, with the upper LH2 tank with a diameter of 5 m, and the lower liquid oxygen tank with a diameter of 3.35 m. The total propellant is 22,900 kg with a burn time of over 600 seconds. Empty mass has not yet been released and is estimated.

CZ-NGLV-KO.

  • Lox/Kerosene propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 60,000/7,000 kg. Thrust 588.00 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 340 seconds. Upper stage for the 3.35 m diameter core vehicle. Only information available are the types of propellants, total thrust, and number of engines. Therefore all values shown here except thrust are estimated. This launcher has a low priority since its payload capability overlaps existing Chinese launch vehicles, and it would not be developed until after 2010.

CZ-NGLV-Light.

CZ-NGLV-Medium.

CZ-YF-2.

  • Nitric acid/UDMH propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 64,100/4,100 kg. Thrust 1,224.58 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 268 seconds.

CZ-YF-73.

  • Lox/LH2 propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 10,500/2,000 kg. Thrust 44.10 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 425 seconds.


Home - Browse - Contact
© / Conditions for Use