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VLS-1

Brazilian Space Agency satellite launcher

Field	Value
name	VLS-1
Veículo Lançador de Satélites
image	[[File:VLS-1.svg	80px]]
caption	VLS-1
function	Orbital launch vehicle
manufacturer	CTA
country-origin	Brazil
height	19.5 m
diameter	1.01 m
mass	50700 kg
stages	3
capacities
status	Cancelled
sites	Alcântara VLS Pad
launches	2
fail	2
other_outcome	1 (pad explosion in 2003)
first	2 November 1997
(VLS-1 V01)
last	11 December 1999
(VLS-1 V02)
type	booster
name	S-43
number	4
engines	1 solid rocket booster
solid	yes
total	303 kN
SI	225 isp
burntime	59 seconds
type	stage
stageno	First
name	S-43TM
engines	1 solid rocket booster
solid	yes
total	320.6 kN
SI	277 isp
burntime	58 seconds
type	stage
stageno	Second
name	S-40TM
engines	1 solid rocket booster
solid	yes
total	208.39 kN
SI	275 isp
burntime	56 seconds
type	stage
stageno	Third
name	S-44
engines	1 solid rocket booster
solid	yes
total	33.24 kN
SI	282 isp
burntime	68 seconds}}	success=0

Veículo Lançador de Satélites |country-origin = Brazil (VLS-1 V01) (VLS-1 V02) The VLS-1 () was the Brazilian Space Agency's main satellite launch vehicle. The launch vehicle would have been capable of launching satellites into orbit. The launch site was located at the Alcântara Launch Center due to its proximity to the equator.

Associated vehicles include the Sonda I, Sonda II, Sonda III and Sonda IV, the VS-30, VS-40 and VSB-30.

The VLS was cancelled after decades of development and high expenditures with poor results and a failed association with Ukraine that slowed the program for years.

History

VLS-1 development started in 1984, after the first launch of the Sonda IV rocket. To date, three prototypes have been built and two launches attempted, departing from the Alcântara Launch Center. During the V1 and V2 prototype launches (VLS-1 V1 and VLS-1 V2) technical problems prevented mission success, but allowed the testing of several vehicle components. The V3 prototype exploded on the launch pad on 22 August 2003, two days before its intended launch date. The 2003 Alcântara VLS accident caused a considerable setback to the Brazilian space program. The V4 prototype was expected to be launched in 2016.

The project was terminated by Brazilian Space Agency in 2016.

The Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia Aeroespacial (DCTA) (Department of Aerospace Science and Technology) and the Agência Espacial Brasileira (AEB) (Brazilian Space Agency) informed on public audience before the VLS-1 project ended by the Senado Federal (Federal Senate) on February 16, 2016.

VLS-1 schedule

Initial flight test schedule

#	Photo	Vehicle	Payload	Date	Place	Result
1		VLS-R1	-	1985 December 1	CLA	Failure, apogee of 10 km.
2		VLS-R2	-	1989 May 18	CLA	Apogee of 50 km.
3		VLS-1 V01	SCD-2A	1997 November 2	CLA	in-flight failure
4		VLS-1 V02	SACI 2	1999 December 11	CLA	in-flight failure
5	[[File:Vls 1 v03.jpg	64px]]	VLS-1 V03	SATEC	2003	CLA	pad explosion on 2003 August 22

Final schedule

The V04 prototype was originally scheduled for launch in 2006. Further testing has resumed in 2008. The final VLS-1 schedule was as follows:

#	Photo	Vehicle	Payload	Date	Place	Result
1	[[File:Vls1-mockup-test.jpg	112px]]	mockup	electrical tests with a mockup rocket	2012	CLA	Success
2		VLS-1 XVT-01 VSISNAV	only first two stages active	2016	CLA	canceled
3		VLS-1 V-04	satellite launch	2018	CLA	canceled

VLS Configurations

VLS-R1 test vehicle (1985)

The VLS-R1 test vehicle had two stages, arranged in the following configuration:

Stage 1 - four S-20 rocket engines
Stage 2 - one dummy S-20 rocket engine

VLS-R2 test vehicle (1989)

The VLS-R2 test vehicle had two stages, arranged in the following configuration:

Stage 1 - four S-20 rocket engines
Stage 2 - one S-20 rocket engine

VLS-XVI 01 sub-orbital test vehicle (2016, planned)

The VLS-XVI 01 sub-orbital test vehicle has three solid fuel rocket stages and boosters, arranged in the following configuration:

Stage 0 - four S-43 rocket engines
Stage 1 - one S-43TM rocket engine
Stage 2 - dummy S-40TM rocket engine
Stage 3 - dummy S-44 rocket engine

VLS-1 operational configuration (2018, planned)

The VLS-1 has three solid fuel rocket stages and boosters, arranged in the following configuration:

Stage 0 - four S-43 rocket engines
Stage 1 - one S-43TM rocket engine
Stage 2 - one S-40TM rocket engine
Stage 3 - one S-44 rocket engine

The rocket has four 400N RCS jets, located on the top of the third stage.

Developments

VLM

Main article: VLM (rocket)

The VLM (Veículo Lançador de Microssatélites) based on the S50 rocket engine is being studied, with the objective of orbiting satellites up to 150 kg in circular orbits ranging from 250 to 700 km. It will be a three-stage rocket, expected to launch the SHEFEX III mission by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in 2023.

"Cruzeiro do Sul" (Southern Cross) program

VLS Alfa

In the framework of the proposed Cruzeiro do Sul program, the VLS-1 rocket is the basis of the VLS Alfa project.

L5 rocket based configuration - three-stage rocket, with the upper stage being liquid-fuel, putting 200 to 400 kg satellites into low equatorial orbits:

Stage 0 - four S-43 rocket engines
Stage 1 - one S-43TM rocket engine
Stage 2 - one S-40TM rocket engine
Stage 3 - one L5 rocket engine

L75 rocket based configuration - two-stage rocket, with the upper stage being liquid-fuel, putting 500 kg satellites equatorial orbits up to 750 km:

Stage 0 - four S-43 rocket engines
Stage 1 - one S-43TM rocket engine
Stage 2 - one L75 rocket engine

#	Vehicle	Payload	Date	Place	Result
1	VLS Alfa XVT-01	-	2015	-	-
2	VLS Alfa XVT-02	-	2016	-	-
3	VLS Alfa V-01	-	2017	-	-
4	VLS Alfa V-02	SARA Orbital	2018	-	-
5	VLS Alfa V-03	-	2020	-	-

VLS Beta

The VLS Beta is another related project, intended to lift up to 800 kg payloads to an 800 km equatorial orbit. Its first flight was planned for 2020.

Three-stage rocket, with the upper two stages being liquid-fuel.

Stage 1 - one P40 solid rocket engine
Stage 2 - one L300 rocket engines
Stage 3 - one L75 rocket engine

Projected flights are:

#	Vehicle	Payload	Date	Place	Result
1	VLS Beta XVT-01	-	2018	-	-
2	VLS Beta XVT-02	-	2019	-	-
3	VLS Beta V-01	-	2020	-	-

VLS Gama

The VLS Gama is intended to carry up to 1000 kg payloads to an 800 km polar orbit. Three-stage liquid-fuel rocket.

VLS Delta

The VLS Delta is capable of placing 2000 kg payloads in a geostationary orbit. Three-stage liquid-fuel rocket (VLS BETA body) with two solid fuel boosters.

VLS Epsilon

The VLS Epsilon is capable of placing 4000 kg payloads in a geostationary orbit. Three-stage liquid-fuel rocket (VLS BETA body) with two liquid-fuel boosters.

Gallery

File:Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro (São José dos Campos, Brazil) 1.jpg|VLS-1 real size mockup File:Motor vls1.jpg|Engine File:Motor vls2.jpg|Engine test

References

"Veículo Lançador de Satélites (VLS)". Brazilian Space Agency.
"CLA - Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara".
"Problemas de "Governança" e Gestão Explicam em Parte Extinção do VLS-1".
"Problemas de "governança" e gestão explicam em parte extinção do VLS-1".
"Saiba como está o projeto Veículo Lançador de Satélite (VLS)".
"VLS".
(2012). "Motor L5". Espaço Brasileiro.
Duarte, Leandro. (2010). "Torre Móvel de Integração é concluida". Espaço Brasileiro.
"Brazil: IAE Conducts VLS Qualification Tests – Parabolic Arc".
"Brazilian space plans: from 2011 forward".
"Brazilian Space".
"VLM: veículo lançador de microsatélites, launch vehicle for SHEFEX-3". German Aerospace Center (DLR).
"Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço".
"Brasil planeja lançar foguetes ao espaço nos próximos anos; veja cronograma". Terra.
(22 May 2024). "Acesso autônomo ao espaço - Onde o Brasil quer chegar". SindcCT.
"VLS Beta".

Info: Wikipedia Source

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