Launch vehicle
A rocket is a rocket that is used to transport people or payloads into orbit and thus is a system for the operation of space. The payload is almost always under a fairing, which protects these before and during takeoff from external influences.
Dissemination
Means launchers such as the American Atlas, Titan, Saturn, and the Soviet Vostok, Voskhod, Soyuz and the Chinese Long March 2E were and also people are launched into space. Also, the only manned American space shuttle takeoff was considered a launcher, as he also used to transport people and loads into space.
The most famous European launcher Ariane 5 is in the current stage of Ariane is one of the few types of rockets, which have a double launcher and are designed for the launch of two large payloads.
Among the strongest ever built launch vehicles include the American Saturn V and the Soviet N1 and Energia. None of these rockets is currently produced. The strongest currently in use standing launcher is designed and built by Boeing Delta IV Heavy, which completed on 21 December 2004 from Kennedy Space Center from its maiden flight. The strongest standing in use Russian launch vehicle is the Proton-M. The strongest one in use is the European launcher Ariane 5 ECA.
Overview of today's launchers
This table contains the current available for government and commercial payloads launchers and missiles that will graduate with sufficient certainty in the near future their first flights and some already have booked offs.
Provider of carrier rocket launches
- Eurockot (involvement of Germany and Russia), marketer of Rockot launcher ( about 1.9 t payload LEO ). Cost per launch about 13 million euros. For based on the SS -19 design are 100-200 rockets ready for remodeling.
- COSMOS International satellite launch GmbH, marketers Trägerraktete cosmos
- ISC Kosmotras, marketer of the launcher Dnepr ( about 3.7 t payload LEO )
- Starsem ( participation of France and Russia), marketer of the Soyuz rocket ( payload about 7-8 t LEO, 3 t GTO) at launch from Baikonur cosmodrome and
- Arianespace ( ESA), the marketer Trägerraktete Ariane 5 (cost per subsidized starting about 150 million euros, 21 t payload LEO, 9.6 t GTO), the Soyuz launch at Kourou and the Vega launcher
- International Launch Services, marketer of the carrier rocket Proton and in the future Angara
- Sea Launch Zenit marketer of Trägerraktete
- SpaceX, development, operation and marketing of the launchers of the Falcon series ( Falcon 9, Falcon 1 and Falcon Heavy)
- United Launch Alliance start implementing the Atlas, Delta II and Delta IV rockets and marketers of these missiles to the U.S. government
- Orbital Sciences Corporation, marketer of the launchers Minotaur (not available for commercial launches are available ), Pegasus and Taurus
- Boeing Launch Services, marketer of Delta II and Delta IV to commercial customers.
- NPO Maschinostrojenija, marketer of the launcher Strela
- State Rocket Center Makejev, marketers launchers Volna and Schtil
- Antrix, marketers of Indian launch vehicle PSLV and GSLV
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, marketer of the carrier rocket H -2A
- China Great Wall Industry, marketers for Chinese carrier
Reusability
Almost all built today launchers can be started only once. They are therefore referred to as disposable or disposable rocket launcher. The rocket stages are separated after burning, falling back to Earth and be destroyed during re-entry into the atmosphere. Oberstufen often remain for a longer time than space debris in Earth orbit.
Notable exceptions include those developed by Berthold Seliger at the beginning of the 1960s, sounding rockets, the booster of the Energia rocket and the Space Shuttle with its solid boosters. However, the latter is always lost, the outer tank.
The reuse at least the lower rocket stages would be technically quite feasible and could lead to a significant cost reduction. It has hardly been practiced since a salvage with subsequent inspection and overhaul costs often more than the production of a new rocket stage. Further comprising a reusable level by special landing systems, such as parachutes must have. More complex and thus heavier and more expensive engines that are designed for multiple flights, and often also a reinforced structure to survive the landing, without prejudice, would also be necessary. All this leads to a higher mass of the stage, thus reducing the payload capacity of the rocket.
The U.S. space company SpaceX is currently developing for its launchers reusable first stage. They should slow down automatically after the separation of the second stage and land targeted using their own engines. This requires extensive test flights have already been carried out with the experimental Grasshopper rocket.
Statistics
2013 started 82 launchers, of which 77 (94%) successfully. The launches were distributed as follows on countries launchers and launch sites: