SPARK (rocket)
Function | Expendable launch system |
---|---|
Manufacturer | University of Hawaii Aerojet Sandia |
Country of origin | Vereinigte Staaten |
Size | |
Stages | Three |
Capacity | |
Payload to 400 km SSO | |
Mass | 250 kilograms (550 lb) |
Associated rockets | |
Family | Strypi |
Launch history | |
Status | In development |
Launch sites | Barking Sands |
Total launches | 0 |
First flight | April 2014 (planned) |
SPARK, or Spaceborne Payload Assist Rocket - Kauai, also known as Super Strypi,[1] is an American expendable launch system which is being developed by the University of Hawaii, Sandia and Aerojet.[2] Designed to place miniaturized satellites into low Earth and sun-synchronous orbits, it is a derivative of the Strypi rocket which was developed in the 1960s in support of nuclear weapons testing. SPARK is being developed under the Low Earth Orbiting Nanosatellite Integrated Defense Autonomous System (LEONIDAS) program, funded by the Operationally Responsive Space Office of the United States Department of Defense.
SPARK will be a three-stage all-solid carrier rocket, with a spin-stabilized first stage and an active attitude control system on the second and third stages. It is expected to have a payload capacity of 250 kilograms (550 lb) to a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometres (250 mi).[3] Launches will be conducted from Vandenberg Air Force Base's Space Launch Complex 5, which will have been relocated to the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands.[4] Aerojet will produce the motors for all three stages, whilst Sandia is the prime contractor for the rocket's systems. The United States Air Force will provide launch support.
The first launch of SPARK is scheduled for 2014[5] and will carry HawaiiSat-1 and several secondary payloads, and test the rocket at its full payload capacity.[6]
References
- ^ "HawaiiSat-1". eoPortal Directory. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "SPARK". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- ^ "Overview". Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- ^ Taylor, Brian. "Innovative Satellite Launch Program". School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- ^ [http:spaceflightnow.com/tracking/ Spaceflight now]
- ^ "Missions". Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory, University of Hawaii. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.