Valves replaced in EELV upper stages
Posted: Tue, Aug 21, 2007, 7:32 AM ET (1132 GMT)
A valve implicated in a partial failure of an Atlas 5 rocket in June has been replaced in the engines of the upper stages of both the Atlas 5 and Delta 4. The hydrogen valve in the RL10 engine, used in the upper stages of both rockets, has been modified to prevent a freezeup experienced during an Atlas 5 launch of two NRO reconnaissance satellites in June. The valve allowed liquid hydrogen fuel to leak out, causing the RL10 engine to shutdown several seconds early, placing the satellites into a lower-than-planner orbit. The satellites have been gradually raising their orbits using their own thrusters. The redesigned valve has been incorporated into the engines for upcoming Atlas 5 and Delta 4 launches, with the first being an Atlas 5 launch of a next-generation military communications satellite in mid-September.
A valve implicated in a partial failure of an Atlas 5 rocket in June has been replaced in the engines of the upper stages of both the Atlas 5 and Delta 4. The hydrogen valve in the RL10 engine, used in the upper stages of both rockets, has been modified to prevent a freezeup experienced during an Atlas 5 launch of two NRO reconnaissance satellites in June. The valve allowed liquid hydrogen fuel to leak out, causing the RL10 engine to shutdown several seconds early, placing the satellites into a lower-than-planner orbit. The satellites have been gradually raising their orbits using their own thrusters. The redesigned valve has been incorporated into the engines for upcoming Atlas 5 and Delta 4 launches, with the first being an Atlas 5 launch of a next-generation military communications satellite in mid-September.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, April 10
Amazon Leo to Launch 'Mid-2026,' CEO Hints at Lower Price Than Starlink
PC Magazine — 6:24 am ET (1024 GMT) Amazon’s Starlink competitor Leo gets a new date
The Verge — 6:23 am ET (1023 GMT) Space Force Picks 14 Firms to Compete to Build Reconnaissance Satellites
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 6:22 am ET (1022 GMT) Oxygen made from Moon dust for first time
The Daily Telegraph — 6:19 am ET (1019 GMT) This founder helped build SpaceX’s most powerful rocket engine. Now he’s building a ‘fighter jet for orbit.’
TechCrunch — 6:19 am ET (1019 GMT) |
