Athena I
Encyclopedia
The Athena I, known as the Lockheed Launch Vehicle (LLV) at the time of its first flight and Lockheed Martin Launch Vehicle (LMLV) at the time of its second flight, is an American
small expendable launch system
which was used for four launches between 1995 and 2001, and which is scheduled to return to service in 2012. It is a member of the Athena family of rockets, along with the larger Athena II
. Launches from 2012 will use the Athena Ic configuration, which features a different second stage.
The Athena I is a three stage rocket, consisting of solid first and second stages, and a monopropellant
liquid-fuelled third stage. The first stage is a Castor 120, which is also used on some versions of the Taurus rocket. An Orbus 21D motor was used as the second stage on launches up to 2001, however when it returns to service in 2012, the Castor 30, which is under development for the Taurus II
, will be used instead. The third stage is an Orbital Adjustment Module, fuelled by hydrazine
and propelled by four MR-107 engines, which is used for final insertion.
Prior to its retirement in 2001, Athena I launches were made from Space Launch Complex 6
at Vandenberg Air Force Base
, Launch Complex 46 at Spaceport Florida, and Pad 1 of the Kodiak Launch Complex
. The pads at Kodiak and Canaveral will be used for Athena Ic launches, with Launch Pad 0B
of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport
also offered. If a launch from Vandenberg is ordered, Space Launch Complex 8
will be used instead of SLC-6, which was rebuilt as a Delta IV launch complex following the Athena's initial retirement.
Four Athena I launches have been conducted, with one failure. Its maiden flight was conducted from SLC-6 at Vandenberg, and lifted off at 22:30 GMT on 15 August 1995. It was intended to place GemStar-1 into orbit, however the rocket was destroyed by the range safety officer
after the failure of its thrust vectoring
system resulted in a loss of control. The launch was the first from SLC-6, which had originally been built for the Titan III
rocket for launches of the Manned Orbital Laboratory, and was later rebuilt for polar orbit Space Shuttle
launches. Both MOL and polar Shuttle flights were cancelled before any launches were made from SLC-6.
The next Athena I launch was on 23 August 1997, and successfully placed the Lewis
satellite into orbit for NASA
. This launch also took place from SLC-6 at Vandenberg. The third Athena I launch was from LC-46 at Spaceport Florida, and took place on 27 January 1999. The payload, ROCSAT-1, was the first satellite to be operated by the Republic of China
. The fourth launch, which was conducted on 30 September 2001, was the first orbital launch to be made from Kodiak Island. Known as the Kodiak Star mission, it successfully placed the Starshine 3, Picosat 9, PCSat and Sapphire satellites into orbit.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
small expendable launch system
Expendable launch system
An expendable launch system is a launch system that uses an expendable launch vehicle to carry a payload into space. The vehicles used in expendable launch systems are designed to be used only once , and their components are not recovered for re-use after launch...
which was used for four launches between 1995 and 2001, and which is scheduled to return to service in 2012. It is a member of the Athena family of rockets, along with the larger Athena II
Athena II
The Athena II is an American small expendable launch system which was used for three launches between 1998 and 1999, and which is scheduled to return to service in 2012. It is a member of the Athena family of rockets, along with the smaller Athena I...
. Launches from 2012 will use the Athena Ic configuration, which features a different second stage.
The Athena I is a three stage rocket, consisting of solid first and second stages, and a monopropellant
Monopropellant
Monopropellants are propellants composed of chemicals or mixtures of chemicals which can be stored in a single container with some degree of safety. While stable under defined storage conditions, they react very rapidly under certain other conditions to produce a large volume of energetic gases...
liquid-fuelled third stage. The first stage is a Castor 120, which is also used on some versions of the Taurus rocket. An Orbus 21D motor was used as the second stage on launches up to 2001, however when it returns to service in 2012, the Castor 30, which is under development for the Taurus II
Taurus II
Taurus II is an expendable launch system being developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation. It is a two stage vehicle designed to launch payloads weighing up to into low-Earth orbit...
, will be used instead. The third stage is an Orbital Adjustment Module, fuelled by hydrazine
Hydrazine
Hydrazine is an inorganic compound with the formula N2H4. It is a colourless flammable liquid with an ammonia-like odor. Hydrazine is highly toxic and dangerously unstable unless handled in solution. Approximately 260,000 tons are manufactured annually...
and propelled by four MR-107 engines, which is used for final insertion.
Prior to its retirement in 2001, Athena I launches were made from Space Launch Complex 6
Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 6
Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California is a launch pad and support area. It was originally designed for the launching of the Titan III in support of the cancelled Manned Orbiting Laboratory, and was later rebuilt for the Space Shuttle, which also never used it due to...
at Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
, Launch Complex 46 at Spaceport Florida, and Pad 1 of the Kodiak Launch Complex
Kodiak Launch Complex
The Kodiak Launch Complex is a commercial rocket launch facility for sub-orbital and orbital space launch vehiclesowned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, a public corporation of the State of Alaska....
. The pads at Kodiak and Canaveral will be used for Athena Ic launches, with Launch Pad 0B
Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0
Launch Pad 0, Pad 0 or LP-0, also known as Launch Area 0 or LA-0, is a launch complex at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island in the United States. Prior to 2003, the complex was part of the Wallops Flight Facility. It consists of two individual launch pads, LP-0A and LP-0B...
of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport
Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport is a commercial space launch facility located at the southern tip of NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on the Delmarva Peninsula south of Chincoteague, Virginia.-Background:...
also offered. If a launch from Vandenberg is ordered, Space Launch Complex 8
Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 8
Space Launch Complex 8 , is a launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, United States. It is used by Minotaur rockets...
will be used instead of SLC-6, which was rebuilt as a Delta IV launch complex following the Athena's initial retirement.
Four Athena I launches have been conducted, with one failure. Its maiden flight was conducted from SLC-6 at Vandenberg, and lifted off at 22:30 GMT on 15 August 1995. It was intended to place GemStar-1 into orbit, however the rocket was destroyed by the range safety officer
Range Safety Officer
In the field of rocketry, Range Safety Officer is a generic term referring to an individual who monitors the performance of rockets in flight, and who is responsible for their remote destruction if it should be judged that they pose a hazard...
after the failure of its thrust vectoring
Thrust vectoring
Thrust vectoring, also thrust vector control or TVC, is the ability of an aircraft, rocket or other vehicle to manipulate the direction of the thrust from its engine or motor in order to control the attitude or angular velocity of the vehicle....
system resulted in a loss of control. The launch was the first from SLC-6, which had originally been built for the Titan III
Titan (rocket family)
Titan was a family of U.S. expendable rockets used between 1959 and 2005. A total of 368 rockets of this family were launched, including all the Project Gemini manned flights of the mid-1960s...
rocket for launches of the Manned Orbital Laboratory, and was later rebuilt for polar orbit Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
launches. Both MOL and polar Shuttle flights were cancelled before any launches were made from SLC-6.
The next Athena I launch was on 23 August 1997, and successfully placed the Lewis
Lewis (satellite)
Lewis was an American satellite which was to have been operated by NASA as part of the Small Satellite Technology Initiative. It carried two experimental Earth imaging instruments, and an ultraviolet astronomy payload...
satellite into orbit for NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. This launch also took place from SLC-6 at Vandenberg. The third Athena I launch was from LC-46 at Spaceport Florida, and took place on 27 January 1999. The payload, ROCSAT-1, was the first satellite to be operated by the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. The fourth launch, which was conducted on 30 September 2001, was the first orbital launch to be made from Kodiak Island. Known as the Kodiak Star mission, it successfully placed the Starshine 3, Picosat 9, PCSat and Sapphire satellites into orbit.
See also
- ALV X-1ALV X-1ALV X-1 was to be a sounding rocket flight of a vehicle developed by Alliant Techsystems called the ATK Launch Vehicle . The rocket carried the SOAREX-VI and Hy-BoLT experiments as payloads. The flight was launched at 09:10 GMT on 2008-08-22, and then the rocket was intentionally destroyed 20...
- Comparison of small lift launch systems
- Comparison of solid-fuelled orbital launch systems
- Taurus IITaurus IITaurus II is an expendable launch system being developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation. It is a two stage vehicle designed to launch payloads weighing up to into low-Earth orbit...