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Aviation History
1984
1984 - 0070.PDF
COMMERCIAL ROCKETS Our directory provides details of all the world's major commer cially available rockets and up per stages—from Atlas to Space Shut tle and from Pam to Centaur G. We believe it to be the first comprehen sive listing of its kind, and hope that it will be a useful reference for anyone involved in the design, manufacture, purchase, or launching of rockets. In compiling this directory we have concentrated on those rockets which have a major role to play in orbiting satellites. We have excluded India's SLV-3, for example, because Isro is not seriously marketing the rocket, though it would doubtless be happy to talk to interested parties. America's Titan, essentially a workhorse for mil itary payloads, comes into a similar category now that work on a commer cial version has been suspended. We have included Japan's N-II because of its Delta lineage, however, as well as what little is known of Proton—because the Soviet Union has proposed it to launch Inmarsat craft. Ariane Europe created Ariane for two main reasons—to get around America's monopoly of Western-world launches, and to be a cheaper way of orbiting satellites. Though it is a Euro pean programme, much of the credit for Ariane belongs to France, which has a two-thirds stake in the venture. Ariane is a three-stage rocket which, in its current Ariane 1 version, is capable of placing 1,700kg in geosynchronous orbit. A family of improved versions is being developed to cope with the trend toward heavier, larger satellites. It comprises Ariane 2 and 3, and a group of craft under the Ariane 4 label. Ariane 2 differs from its predecessor in hav ing a longer third stage, and more powerful engines (Flight, April 30, page 1167). Ariane 3 goes a step further in having two strap-on boosters. The largest family member, Ariane 4, has a longer first stage than Ariane 2 and a much larger payload fairing. Six versions of Ariane 4 are available, distinguished by their strap-on boosters. In the list which follows, payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit' is quoted in parenthesis. The Ariane 4 marques are; 40, no strap-ons (2,000kg); 42P, two solid- propellant (2,700kg); 44P, four solid-propellant (3,100kg); 42L, two liquid-propellant (3,300kg); 44LP, two solid-propellant and two liquid- Right Scout is a cheap way of orbiting small satellites Middle Europe's Ariane is the only serious competition for US launchers Upper centre Prime contractor General Dynamics is continuing Atlas-Centuar as a private venture under the US Government's commercialisation policy Top right Delta has established itself as an arbiter of medium-size satellites Lower cen tre McDonnell Douglas Astronautics assembles Deltas in Long Beach, California Bottom right Japan's N-II is derived from Delta 96 FLIGHT International, 14 January 1984
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