VS-50
{{Short description|Sounding rocket from the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE) and German Aerospace Center (DLR)}}
{{Infobox rocket
|image = Foto do VS-50 montado na plataforma de lançamento.png
|name = VS-50
|function = Sounding rocket
Test of the VLM-1 subsystems
|manufacturer = IAE
DLR
|country-origin = Brazil, Germany
|height = {{cvt|12|m}}
|diameter = {{cvt|1.46|m}}
|width =
|mass = 15 t
|stages = 2
|family =
|derived_from =
|derivatives = VLM
|comparable =
|status = In development
|sites = Alcântara Launch Center
|launches =
|success =
|fail =
|partial =
|destroyedbefore =
|other_outcome =
|landings =
|first = March 2025
|last =
|only =
|payloads =
|stagedata =
{{Infobox rocket/stage
|type = stage
|diff =
|stageno = First
|name = S50
|number =
|length =
|diameter =
|width =
|empty =
|gross =
|propmass =
|engines =
|solid = yes
|thrust =
|total =
|SI =
|burntime =
|fuel =
}}
{{Infobox rocket/stage
|type = stage
|diff =
|stageno = Second
|name = S44
|number =
|length =
|diameter =
|width =
|empty =
|gross =
|propmass =
|engines =
|solid = yes
|thrust =
|total =
|SI =
|burntime =
|fuel =
}}
}}
VS-50 (suborbital rocket VS-50) is a joint development of sounding rocket from the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE) and German Aerospace Center (DLR).
Characteristics
It is a suborbital vehicle that uses solid propellant, having two stages: the first uses the S50 engine (made of composite material{{Cite book|url=http://www.iae.cta.br/images/relatorios-atividades/Relatorio_de_Atividades_2018_Final.pdf|title=Relatório de atividades 2018|format=PDF|place=São José dos Campos|publisher=Linceu Editorial|year=2019|chapter=Realizações Técnicas|accessdate=2020-02-08}}) and the second uses the S44 engine. It is 12 m long, 1.46 m in diameter, and has a mass of approximately 15 tons, and can carry up to 500 kg of payload.{{cite web|url=http://www.aeb.gov.br/programa-espacial-brasileiro/transporte-espacial/vs-50/|title=VS-50|accessdate=2020-02-08|date=2018-04-22|work=Agência Espacial Brasileira|language=pt-br}}
Brazil (IAE) is responsible for developing the S50 and S44 engines, the backup navigation system, the launch and flight safety infrastructure, and project documentation management. The development and qualification of the other systems are the responsibility of Germany (DLR).{{cite web|url=http://www.iae.cta.br/index.php/ultimas-noticias/426-revisao-preliminar-do-projeto-pdr-vs-50|title=Revisão preliminar do projeto (PDR) VS-50|accessdate=2020-02-08|date=2017-07-18|work=Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço|language=pt-br}}
Goals
Development
- On December 22, 2016, a contract was signed between IAE and AVIBRAS for the production of eight S50 engines and their accessories. Engines 1 and 2 will be used for engineering tests (structural and burst tests). Engines 3 and 4 will be used for burn tests on a ground test bench. Engines 5 and 6 for validation during flights of the VS-50 rockets, and engines 7 and 8 will be used in the VLM-1 rocket.{{cite web|url=http://www.aeb.gov.br/contrato-garante-producao-de-oito-motores-s50/|title=Contrato garante produção de oito motores S50|accessdate=2020-02-08|date=2017-01-11|work=Agência Espacial Brasileira|language=pt-br}}{{cite web|url=https://www.defesaaereanaval.com.br/defesa/instituto-de-aeronautica-e-espaco-iae-assinou-contrato-para-producao-de-oito-motores-s50|title=Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço (IAE), assinou contrato para produção de oito motores S50|accessdate=2020-02-08|date=2016-12-27|work=Defesa Aérea & Naval|language=pt-br}}
- On November 15 and 16, 2018, at Avibras' facilities, acceptance and envelope burst tests were performed on the S50 engine, with the results being in compliance with the design requirements.{{cite web|url=http://www.iae.cta.br/index.php/ultimas-noticias/579-instituto-de-aeronautica-e-espaco-iae-e-avibras-realizam-importantes-ensaios-do-projeto-vlm-1|title=INSTITUTO DE AERONÁUTICA E ESPAÇO (IAE) E AVIBRAS REALIZAM IMPORTANTES ENSAIOS DO PROJETO VLM-1|accessdate=2020-02-08|date=2018-11-23|work=Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço|language=pt-br}}
- On November 5, 2019, the test firing of the first prototype of the S-50 engine ignitor took place.{{cite web|url=http://www.iae.cta.br/index.php/ultimas-noticias/614-iae-realiza-1-ensaio-de-queima-do-ignitor-s50|title=IAE realiza 1° ensaio de queima do ignitor S50|accessdate=2020-02-08|date=2020-01-14|work=Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço|language=pt-br}}
- On July 13, 2021, the second phase of Operation Santa Maria was completed, which integrated an inert S-50 engine and loaded it onto the launching table of the {{ill|Mobile Integration Tower|pt|Torre Móvel de Integração}} (TMI).{{Cite web |url=https://www.gov.br/aeb/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/realizada-a-segunda-fase-da-operacao-santa-maria |title=Realizada a segunda fase da Operação Santa Maria |accessdate=2021-08-11 |website=Agência Espacial Brasileira |language=pt-br}}
File:Teste de Motor Foguete - 51551244546.jpg
- On October 1, 2021, a static burn test of the S50 engine was conducted on a test stand. The test lasted about 84 seconds and burned 12 tons of fuel. The objective was to test the engine's endurance and performance, and it was considered a success.{{cite web|url=https://www.defesanet.com.br/space/noticia/42264/Exclusivo---DefesaNet-resgistra-Ensaio-Motor-S50|title=Exclusivo - DefesaNet resgistra Ensaio Motor S50|accessdate=2021-10-03|author=Nelson Düring|date=2021-10-02|work=DefesaNet|language=pt-br}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.br/aeb/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/teste-do-motor-s-50-foi-um-sucesso|title=Teste do motor S50 foi um sucesso|accessdate=2021-10-03|author=Coordenação de Comunicação Social - CCS|date=2021-10-03|work=Agência Espacial Brasileira|language=pt-br}}
- On December 2, 2023, AEB's president announced that a first flight of the rocket is planned for 2024.{{Cite web |last=Andrade |first=Gabriel |date=2023-12-02 |title=Foguete brasileiro deve ser lançado em 2024, diz presidente da Agência Espacial Brasileira |url=https://gizmodo.uol.com.br/foguete-brasileiro-deve-ser-lancado-em-2024-diz-presidente-da-agencia-espacial-brasileira/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Giz Brasil |language=pt-BR}}
- On March 7, 2024, AEB had released the roadmap for 2025, with the VS-50 launch proposed for March 2025{{Cite web |last=Carlos |first=Raul |date=2024-03-07 |title=Cronograma Oficial do VS-50 COM DATA DE LANÇAMENTO |url=https://foguetesbrasileiros.com/cronograma-oficial-do-vs-50-com-data-de-lancamento/07/03/2024/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Revista Foguetes Brasileiros |language=pt-BR}}
- On August 19, 2024, due to Avibras bankruptcy situation, Brazilian Air Force has given the project to Mac Jee{{Cite web|date=2024-08-19 |title=FAB Desiste do S50 e da AVIBRAS e transfere produção para Mac Jee |url=https://www.defesanet.com.br/space/fab-desiste-do-s50-e-da-avibras-e-transfere-producao-para-mac-jee/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=DefesaNet |language=pt-BR}}
{{Commons category|VS-50 (sounding rocket)}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Brazil space program}}
{{Suborbital rocket engines}}