Launch
of Complete Full Scale NLV Flight Development Unit (Prospector-6)
in Preparation
The team is continuing the development
of the Prospector-6 vehicle. This vehicle represents the complete
baseline NLV vehicle. For cost reasons, this flight development
unit (FDU) has low fidelity and performance relative to an operational
NLV. While the NLV would be capable of delivering 10 kg to low
earth orbit, P-6 is expected to reach altitudes around 5,000
ft. This vehicle represents an evolution from P-5
which was flown and recovered in Dec. 2004 and which represented
only the first stage of the baseline NLV. The P-6 will include
inter-stage and upper stage mock-ups. Also, stage separation
will be attempted.
As for P-5, recovery
will be attempted, using this time a larger and higher performance
parachute provided at a discount by Butler
Parachutes.
P-6 under construction;
1400 lbf thrust engine is sitting next to it
The launch date originally
planned for mid-April has been postponed to May because of the
current MTA access road conditions.
The primary objective
for this development effort is to obtain experience with building,
testing, handling and launching vehicles of the complete NLV
scale. Subsequent FDU's will incrementally evolve towards the
high-performance NLV design as resources become available.
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION REGARDING THE MTA FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO ATTEND THE
LAUNCH ATTEMPT
Per Reaction Research
Society policy, people attending tests are now required to obtain
full-year membership PRIOR to the test date. Details will be
provided at a later date.
For operations at
the Mojave Test Area, including logistics and direction information,
click here.
For additional information
about either the CALVEIN project and/or the cooperative program
between CSULB and Garvey Spacecraft Corporation, please contact
the following project representatives:
|
For additional information about
either the CALVEIN project and/or the cooperative program between
CSULB and Garvey Spacecraft Corporation, please contact the following
project representatives:
|
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