Conestoga

Low cost orbital launch vehicle. Family:

Manufacturer: EER. Launches: 1. Failures: 1. Success Rate: 0.00%. First Launch Date: 1995-10-23. Last Launch Date: 1995-10-23. Launch data is: complete. Version:

EER Aries. Low cost orbital launch vehicle. Family: LCLV. Status: Out of production.

Aries launched to promote a commercial launch vehicle of entirely different configuration.

LEO Payload: 890 kg (1,960 lb). to: 463 km Orbit. Liftoff Thrust: 1,704.700 kN (383,232 lbf). Total Mass: 87,407 kg (192,699 lb). Core Diameter: 1.24 m (4.06 ft). Total Length: 15.24 m (49.99 ft). Launch Price $: 18.000 million. in: 1994 price dollars.

• Stage0: 4 x Castor 4A. Gross Mass: 11,743 kg (25,888 lb). Empty Mass: 1,529 kg (3,370 lb). Motor: 1 x Castor 4A. Thrust (vac): 478.309 kN (107,528 lbf). Isp: 266 sec. Burn time: 56 sec. Length: 9.12 m (29.92 ft). Diameter: 1.02 m (3.34 ft). Propellants: Solid.

• Stage1: 2 x Castor 4B. Gross Mass: 11,400 kg (25,100 lb). Empty Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Motor: 1 x Castor 4B. Thrust (vac): 430.610 kN (96,805 lbf). Isp: 281 sec. Burn time: 64 sec. Length: 9.20 m (30.10 ft). Diameter: 1.02 m (3.34 ft). Propellants: Solid.

• Stage2: 1 x Castor 4B. Gross Mass: 11,400 kg (25,100 lb). Empty Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Motor: 1 x Castor 4B. Thrust (vac): 430.610 kN (96,805 lbf). Isp: 281 sec. Burn time: 64 sec. Length: 9.20 m (30.10 ft). Diameter: 1.02 m (3.34 ft). Propellants: Solid.

• Stage3: 1 x PAM-D. Gross Mass: 2,141 kg (4,720 lb). Empty Mass: 232 kg (511 lb). Motor: 1 x Star 48. Thrust (vac): 67.155 kN (15,097 lbf). Isp: 292 sec. Burn time: 88 sec. Length: 2.04 m (6.69 ft). Diameter: 1.24 m (4.06 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Launches: 1. Failures: 1. First Launch Date: 1995-10-23. Last Launch Date: 1995-10-23. LEO Payload: 900 kg (1,980 lb). Apogee: 450 km (270 mi). Associated Spacecraft: Meteor (USA). Liftoff Thrust: 1,580.000 kN (355,190 lbf). Total Mass: 87,400 kg (192,600 lb). Core Diameter: 1.02 m (3.34 ft). Total Length: 15.20 m (49.80 ft).

• Stage1: 4 x Castor 4B. Gross Mass: 11,400 kg (25,100 lb). Empty Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Motor: 1 x Castor 4B. Thrust (vac): 430.610 kN (96,805 lbf). Isp: 281 sec. Burn time: 64 sec. Length: 9.20 m (30.10 ft). Diameter: 1.02 m (3.34 ft). Propellants: Solid.

• Stage2: 2 x Castor 4B. Gross Mass: 11,400 kg (25,100 lb). Empty Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Motor: 1 x Castor 4B. Thrust (vac): 430.610 kN (96,805 lbf). Isp: 281 sec. Burn time: 64 sec. Length: 9.20 m (30.10 ft). Diameter: 1.02 m (3.34 ft). Propellants: Solid.

• Stage3: 1 x Castor 4B. Gross Mass: 11,400 kg (25,100 lb). Empty Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Motor: 1 x Castor 4B. Thrust (vac): 430.610 kN (96,805 lbf). Isp: 281 sec. Burn time: 64 sec. Length: 9.20 m (30.10 ft). Diameter: 1.02 m (3.34 ft). Propellants: Solid.

• Stage4: 1 x Star 48V. Gross Mass: 2,200 kg (4,800 lb). Empty Mass: 140 kg (300 lb). Motor: 1 x Star 48V. Thrust (vac): 68.700 kN (15,444 lbf). Burn time: 84 sec. Length: 2.00 m (6.50 ft). Diameter: 1.22 m (4.00 ft). Propellants: Solid.

1995 October 23 - 22:03 GMT - Wallops Island LA0A. Conestoga 1620 F1 FAILURE: Noise in guidance system led to excessive steering of one of the booster motors and finally depletion of the motor's hydraulic fluid. The vehicle went out of control at T+46 seconds. Meteor Agency: EER. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). At T+44.4 seconds the vehicle started a turn to the south and pitched down. The ISDS destruct system commanded the destruct packages at T+46.202 seconds. The ISDS failed to operate on two Castor 4 stage 1 motors but operated on the other four. At T+47.67 sec the ISDS destroyed a non-burning Castor 4B motor. The third stage Castor 4B and fourth stage Star 48 were not destroyed and impacted in the ocean. Cause of the failure was identified as the flight control system attempting to respond to noise being received on a data line, resulting in early depletion of hydraulic control steering fluid on stage 1 motor 6.