 | Nova A
Credit - © Mark Wade
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Orbital launch vehicle. Year: 1960. Family: Nova. Country: USA. Status: Study 1960. Convair/Ehricke Nova design using standard tank/engine modules of 4.9 m diameter in both first and second stages; 4 F-1 engine/modules in first stage, 4 J-2 engine/modules in second stage. Manufacturer: Convair. LEO Payload: 68,000 kg (149,000 lb). to: 556 km Orbit. Payload: 27,000 kg (59,000 lb). to a: escape trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 26,688.600 kN (5,999,836 lbf). Total Mass: 1,866,600 kg (4,115,100 lb). Core Diameter: 9.80 m (32.10 ft). Total Length: 78.00 m (255.00 ft).
Stage Data - Nova A - Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: Nova A-1. Gross Mass: 1,342,000 kg (2,958,000 lb). Empty Mass: 73,000 kg (160,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 30,616.000 kN (6,882,750 lbf). Isp: 304 sec. Burn time: 121 sec. Isp(sl): 265 sec. Diameter: 9.80 m (32.10 ft). Span: 11.90 m (39.00 ft). Length: 28.00 m (91.00 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 4. Engine: F-1. Status: Study 1960.
- Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: Nova A-2. Gross Mass: 403,000 kg (888,000 lb). Empty Mass: 29,000 kg (63,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 5,334.000 kN (1,199,130 lbf). Isp: 420 sec. Burn time: 284 sec. Isp(sl): 150 sec. Diameter: 9.80 m (32.10 ft). Span: 11.90 m (39.00 ft). Length: 23.80 m (78.00 ft). Propellants: Lox/LH2. No Engines: 4. Engine: J-2. Status: Study 1960.
- Stage Number: 3. 1 x Stage: Nova A-3. Gross Mass: 40,000 kg (88,000 lb). Empty Mass: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb). Thrust (vac): 313.000 kN (70,365 lbf). Isp: 427 sec. Burn time: 480 sec. Diameter: 5.80 m (19.00 ft). Span: 5.80 m (19.00 ft). Length: 13.10 m (42.90 ft). Propellants: Lox/LH2. No Engines: 5. Engine: RL-10. Status: Study 1960.
Nova A Chronology 1961 June 10 - Launch Vehicle: Nova A. - Preparation for NOVA rocket motor tests. Nation: USA. National Bureau of Standards broke ground for new research facility at Gaithersburg, Md., which will include a mega-pound deadweight testing machine to provide measurement standards for multimillion rocket thrust requirements. References: 18.
1961 October 24 - Launch Vehicle: Nova A. - Nova launch vehicle studies begun. Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Studies of "unconventional" rockets using liquid fuels in the thrust range from 2 to 24 million pounds announced by NASA; 2 contracts being carried out by Aerojet-General and Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation. References: 18, 27.
Bibliography and Further Reading - Koelle, Heinz Hermann,, Handbook of Astronautical Engineering, McGraw-Hill,New York, 1961. The only such comprehensive handbook ever produced, and at the dawn of the space age.
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