Andrew Yee[_1_]
April 17th 08, 08:40 PM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
31 March 2008
Successful qualification firing test for Zefiro 23
On 27 March 2008, the second stage motor for Vega -- Europe's new small
launcher -- successfully completed a static firing test at the Salto Di
Quirra Inter-force Test Range in Sardinia, Italy.
Ignition of the qualification model of the Zefiro 23 solid-propellant rocket
motor occurred at 13:15 CET [1215 UTC]. In just 14 seconds, the thrust
reached 930 kN, equivalent to nearly 95 tonnes of force.
This was the second and final firing test for the Zefiro 23, in which over
24 tonnes of propellant was consumed with a flame temperature of over 3000
K. The burn lasted approximately 75 seconds and initial results show the
test to be a success.
Performance as predicted
The combustion chamber pressure and motor thrust were well within the test
prediction. Large amplitude movements of the thrust vector control system
were executed -- simulating worst-case manoeuvres -- and the performance was
very satisfactory. Additionally, modifications implemented in the nozzle
design following the anomaly experienced during the previous Zefiro 9 test
were proven to be effective.
"The success of this test demonstrates the soundness of the design and
rewards the enormous efforts of the team that has worked on the project,"
stated Francesco Betti, Head of the Design Department at Avio's Space
Division.
The motor will now be transported back to Avio's facility at Colleferro
(Italy) for a thorough inspection of all its components and the data
obtained from the 400 sensors deployed during the test will be analysed in
more detail.
"The project team will rendezvous at Salto Di Quirra in June for the Zefiro
9 firing test," announced Paolo Bellomi, Technical Director of ELV, the Vega
launcher prime contractor.
Two motors now qualified
In the past 27 months, four Vega test firings have taken place at Salto Di
Quirra, each one a milestone in the development of the Vega launcher. The
Zefiro 23 is the second Vega solid rocket motor to achieve qualification,
following the P80 first stage motor, which completed qualification testing
in December 2007.
"The teams of Avio, ELV, SABCA APP and of the Integrated Programme Team of
ESA, CNES and ASI did a great job. This success paves the way for the Vega
maiden flight," said Stefano Bianchi, Head of the Vega Programme at ESA.
About Vega
Vega is a single body launcher composed of three solid-propellant stages and
a liquid-propellant upper module. It is approximately 30 metres high, and
weighs a total of 137 tonnes at lift off. Vega's reference launch capacity
is to carry a 1500 kg payload into a 700 km-altitude polar orbit, but the
launcher is also designed to serve a wide range of scientific and Earth
observation missions.
[NOTE: An image and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMSEBR03EF_index_1.html ]
http://www.esa.int
31 March 2008
Successful qualification firing test for Zefiro 23
On 27 March 2008, the second stage motor for Vega -- Europe's new small
launcher -- successfully completed a static firing test at the Salto Di
Quirra Inter-force Test Range in Sardinia, Italy.
Ignition of the qualification model of the Zefiro 23 solid-propellant rocket
motor occurred at 13:15 CET [1215 UTC]. In just 14 seconds, the thrust
reached 930 kN, equivalent to nearly 95 tonnes of force.
This was the second and final firing test for the Zefiro 23, in which over
24 tonnes of propellant was consumed with a flame temperature of over 3000
K. The burn lasted approximately 75 seconds and initial results show the
test to be a success.
Performance as predicted
The combustion chamber pressure and motor thrust were well within the test
prediction. Large amplitude movements of the thrust vector control system
were executed -- simulating worst-case manoeuvres -- and the performance was
very satisfactory. Additionally, modifications implemented in the nozzle
design following the anomaly experienced during the previous Zefiro 9 test
were proven to be effective.
"The success of this test demonstrates the soundness of the design and
rewards the enormous efforts of the team that has worked on the project,"
stated Francesco Betti, Head of the Design Department at Avio's Space
Division.
The motor will now be transported back to Avio's facility at Colleferro
(Italy) for a thorough inspection of all its components and the data
obtained from the 400 sensors deployed during the test will be analysed in
more detail.
"The project team will rendezvous at Salto Di Quirra in June for the Zefiro
9 firing test," announced Paolo Bellomi, Technical Director of ELV, the Vega
launcher prime contractor.
Two motors now qualified
In the past 27 months, four Vega test firings have taken place at Salto Di
Quirra, each one a milestone in the development of the Vega launcher. The
Zefiro 23 is the second Vega solid rocket motor to achieve qualification,
following the P80 first stage motor, which completed qualification testing
in December 2007.
"The teams of Avio, ELV, SABCA APP and of the Integrated Programme Team of
ESA, CNES and ASI did a great job. This success paves the way for the Vega
maiden flight," said Stefano Bianchi, Head of the Vega Programme at ESA.
About Vega
Vega is a single body launcher composed of three solid-propellant stages and
a liquid-propellant upper module. It is approximately 30 metres high, and
weighs a total of 137 tonnes at lift off. Vega's reference launch capacity
is to carry a 1500 kg payload into a 700 km-altitude polar orbit, but the
launcher is also designed to serve a wide range of scientific and Earth
observation missions.
[NOTE: An image and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMSEBR03EF_index_1.html ]