Board: main engine responsible for Ariane 5 failure
Posted: Tue, Jan 7, 2003, 9:23 AM ET (1423 GMT)
An inquiry board has concluded that the failure of a main engine cooling system led to the loss of an Ariane 5 launched last month, a finding that could permit the time-sensitive launch of an ESA science mission later this month. The inquiry board, led by Wolfgang Koschel of the German space agency DLR, concluded that a leak in a cooling circuit caused the booster's Vulcain 2 main engine to overheat and lose integrity, which in turn caused a thrust imbalance and eventual loss of control of the vehicle. The cooling failure was likely caused by fissures in cooling tubes as well as "non-exhaustive definition" of the loads the engine is subjected to during flight, according to an Arianespace press release. Because the cooling system is different on the Vulcain 1 engine used on the baseline Ariane 5, officials believe that no modifications are required to it, permitting it to return to flight as soon as a series of tests to the engine nozzle are concluded. This means that it is likely that the baseline Ariane 5 can return to service in time to launch ESA's Rosetta comet rendezvous mission, which must launch during a launch window that closes at the end of January. Arianespace plans to create a review board that will make a decision on the Rosetta launch date on January 14. The ESC-A variant of the Ariane 5 that uses the Vulcain 2 engine will likely return to flight in the second half of 2003.
An inquiry board has concluded that the failure of a main engine cooling system led to the loss of an Ariane 5 launched last month, a finding that could permit the time-sensitive launch of an ESA science mission later this month. The inquiry board, led by Wolfgang Koschel of the German space agency DLR, concluded that a leak in a cooling circuit caused the booster's Vulcain 2 main engine to overheat and lose integrity, which in turn caused a thrust imbalance and eventual loss of control of the vehicle. The cooling failure was likely caused by fissures in cooling tubes as well as "non-exhaustive definition" of the loads the engine is subjected to during flight, according to an Arianespace press release. Because the cooling system is different on the Vulcain 1 engine used on the baseline Ariane 5, officials believe that no modifications are required to it, permitting it to return to flight as soon as a series of tests to the engine nozzle are concluded. This means that it is likely that the baseline Ariane 5 can return to service in time to launch ESA's Rosetta comet rendezvous mission, which must launch during a launch window that closes at the end of January. Arianespace plans to create a review board that will make a decision on the Rosetta launch date on January 14. The ESC-A variant of the Ariane 5 that uses the Vulcain 2 engine will likely return to flight in the second half of 2003.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, May 16
XCOR Aerospace Announces Lynx Suborbital Flight Winner
XCOR Aerospace — 12:52 pm ET (1652 GMT) Mojave Spaceport Hires Lobbyist as Prospects for Limited Liability Bill Brighten
Parabolic Arc — 12:51 pm ET (1651 GMT) JPL Invites all Earthlings to Annual Open House
NASA/JPL — 12:50 pm ET (1650 GMT) Ball Aerospace Submits Solar Electric Propulsion Concept to NASA
PR Newswire — 12:49 pm ET (1649 GMT) New welding technique pioneered by NASA brings hundreds of experts to Huntsville
Huntsville Times — 12:48 pm ET (1648 GMT) |