Mariner Mars Atlas Space Launch Vehicle Information

8/7/2019 Mariner Mars Atlas Space Launch Vehicle Information

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ATLAS.MARINER SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLE BUILT BY GENERAL DYNAMICS IASTRONAUTICS FOR THE U. S. AIR FORCE AND THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION.


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N o v e m b e r 1964

MARINER MARS

ATLAS SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLE

INFORMATION

ASTRONAUTI CS D I V I S I ON

GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATIONSAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

For a d d i t i o n a l informat ion:

P u b l i c Informat ion , D e p t . 121-0, P o s t O f f i c e Box 1128 , SanD i e g o , C a l i f o r n i a , 92112

T e l e p h o n e 277-8900, E x t . 2833 - TWX 714-279-0250.

5-2-13-JW-64-1006


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CONTENTS

ATLAS-AGENA/MARINER STATISTICSMARINER MARS 1964 .

Objectives . . . . . . . . .

Responsibilities . . . . . .

ATLAS BACKGROUND . . . . . . .

Dependability . . . . . . .

Versatility . . . . . . . .

ATLAS FACTS . . . . . . . . .

Three Versions . . . . . . .

Atlas LV-3A Structure . . .

Atlas Staging . . . . . . .

Propulsion . . . . . . . . .

Pr ope1 lan ts . . . . . . . .

MODIFICATIONS FOR THIS MISSION

Propulsion . . . . . . . . .

Telemetry . . . . . . . . .

Pitch Program . . . . . . .

ATLAS FLIGHT . . . . . . . . .

Objectives . . . . . . . . .

Flight Sequence. . . . . .

LAUNCH COMPLEXES . . . . . . .

ATLAS MISSIONS . . . . . . . .

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MARINER MARS 1964

OBJECTIVES

A s e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e N a t i o n a l A e r o n a u t i c s a n d S p a c e A d m i ni s t ra -

t i o n , t h e m i s s i o n o b j e c t i v e s a r e t o p r o v i d e e n g i n e e r i n g e x p e r i e n c e

on t h e o p e r a t i o n of a s p a c e c r a f t d u r i n g l o n g - d u ra t i on f l i g h t s away

f rom t h e s u n an d t o p e rf or m s c i e n t i f i c m easu remen ts i n i n t e r -

p l a n e t a r y s p a c e b et we en t h e o r b i t s o f e a r t h a n d Mars a n d i n t h e

v i c i n i t y o f Mars.

The mis s ion i s t h e mos t complex one y e t t o be a t t em p t ed i n t h e

U . S . unmanned s p ac e program; i t i s p o t e n t i a l l y o ne of t h e most

r ew ar di ng s p a c e e f f o r t s e v e r a t t e mp t e d .

On a r r i v a l a t Mars, a s e r i e s of t e l e v i s i o n p i c t u r e s of t h e

p l a n e t ' s s u r f a c e a n d r a d i o f r e q u e n c y t r a n s m i s s i o n m ea su re me nt s o f

t h e M a r t i a n a t m o s p h e r e w i l l b e r e c o r d e d as t h e s p a c e c r a f t f l i e s b y .

C o s m i c d u s t a n d f i e l d a n d p a r t i c l e e x pe r im e nt s w i l l be c a r r i e d t o

i n v e s t i g a t e r a d i a t i o n , m ag ne tism , i o n s a n d p la sm a on t h e s p a c e -

c r a f t ' s i n t e r p l a n e t a r y j o u r n e y .

T h e o v e r a l l m i s s i o n i s e v e n more c h a l l e n g i n g because of t h e

p la nn ed a t t e m p t t o l a u n ch two i d e n t i c a l v e h i c l e s w i t h i n t h e l a u n c h

window. Two At las-Agena la un ch v e h i c l e s w i t h M a r i n e r s p a c e c r a f t

w i l l be p r e p a r e d f o r f l i g h t f rom two sepa ra t e Cape Kennedy l aunch

c om pl ex es . S p a c e c r a f t a n d l a u n c h v e h i c l e s w i l l be p r o c e s s e d i n

p a r a l l e l s o t h a t f o l l o w i n g l a u nc h o f t h e f i r s t s p a c e v e h i c l e , t h e

second may be l au n ch e d w i t h o u t d e l a y ; b u t n o e a r l i e r t h a n t w o d a y s

a f t e r t h e f i r s t l a u n c h .

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The Mars l a u nc h o p p o r t u n i t y i n 1 96 4 c o i n c i d e s w i t h a " q u i e t

Sun" pe r iod wh ich occu r s o nc e ev e r y e l e v e n y e a r s . T h i s u n u s u a l

c o i n c i d e n c e p e r m i t s t h e g a t h e r i n g of s c i e n t i f i c k nowledge of o u r

s o l a r s y s t e m w i t h a m i n i m u m o f i n t e r f e r e n c e f r o m t h e Sun. Thep e r i o d d u r i n g w h i c h a s p a c e c r a f t may be l a u n c h e d t o Mars l a s t s o n l y

a f e w weeks and happens only once e v e r y 2 5 m o n t h s .

P l a n n i n g f o r t h e t w o Mars f l i g h t s i s based on a minimum launch

o p p o r t u n i t y or window of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 weeks . Because of t h e

demands p laced on t h e l a u n c h v e h i c l e a n d t h e s p a c e c r a f t c a u s e d by

t h e s h o r t n e s s of t h e launch window, t h e c o m p l e x i t y o f t h e s p a c e -

c r a f t , a n d t h e extreme c o mm u ni c at i on d i s t a n c e o f 1 5 0 m i l l i o n miles

( t h r e e t i m e s a n y p r e v i o u s e x p e r i m e n t s ) , i t w a s d e c i d e d t h a t t w o

s e t s of s p a c e c r a f t a nd l au n ch v e h i c l e s b e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y checked

o u t a nd p r e pa r e d f o r l a u n ch .

T r a j e c t o r y a n a l y s e s r e v e a l t h a t t h e launch window on any day

w i t h i n t h e o v e r a l l l a u n c h o p p o r t u n i t y w i l l n o t ex c e e d f o u r h o u r s ,

w i t h a minimum f i r i n g window of t w o h o u r s a v a i l a b l e each day.

F l i g h t t i m e f o r t h e A t l a s - A g e n a - l a u n c h e d s p a c e c r a f t w i l l v a r y ,

r e l a t i v e t o d a y o f l a u n c h , b e t w e e n 7 3 months and 8 3 months depending

on t h e f l i g h t p a t h . An a d d i t i o n a l t h r e e weeks of s p a c e c r a f t f l i g h t

beyond Mars i s needed t o r e t u r n d a t a t o e a r t h s t a t i o n s .

One Mariner Mars ' 6 4 s p a c e c r a f t i s p l a n n e d f o r l a un c h a t o p a n

Agena D an d A t l a s s p a c e l a u n c h v e h i c l e 289-D f r om l a u n c h c o mp le x 13a t Cape Kennedy. The o t h e r M a r i n e r Mars ' 6 4 s p a c e c r a f t w i l l be

b oo st ed by a n i d e n t i c a l v e h i c l e u s i n g A t l a s 288-D and an Agena D

u p p e r s t a g e from l aunch complex 12 .

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RESPONSIBILITIES

The Mariner program is under the overall direction of the office

of Space Sciences and Applications of the National Aeronautics and

Space Administration. Mission direction is conducted by the Lunar

and Planetary Programs Division of that office. Launch vehicle

direction is the responsibility of the Launch Vehicle and Propulsion

Programs Division.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of

Technology in Pasadena, Calif., is assigned project and mission

management responsibility, plus systems management and developmentresponsibility for the Mariner spacecraft system, the space flight

operations systems and the deep space instrumentation facility

system.

NASA's Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, is assigned

responsibility for overall management and conduct of the launch

vehicle portion of the Mariner Program. Lewis specifically is

responsible for the direction of the Atlas-Agena vehicle program in

areas of planning and integration and supervision of participating

contractors.

The Astronautics division of General Dynamics Corp., San

Diego, builds the Atlas launch vehicle for the Space Systems Division

of the Air Force Systems Command, which provides the complete Atlas

launch system used in Air Force and National Aeronautics and Space

Administration space programs.

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A t l a s s p a c e l au n c h v e h i c l e s u se d i n t h e program a r e l a u n c h e d

t h e A s t r o n a u t i c s d i v i s i o n un de r t h e d i r e c t i o n of NASA. P r e f l i g h t

a c t i v i t y a nd t h e l a u n c h a r e t h e o v e r a l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of Goddard

L a u n c h O p e r a t i o n s , Cape Kennedy, under t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h e NASA

L e w i s Research C e n t e r . Goddard has o p e r a t i o n a l c o n t r o l of l a u n c h

complexes 1 2 and 13 a nd t e c h n i c a l d i r e c t i o n of t h e l a un c h v e h i c l e

a nd s u p p o r t i n g c o n t r a c t o r s t a k i n g p a r t i n programs a t b o t h complexes .

The A s t r o n a u t i c s d i v i s i o n of Genera l Dynamics i s r e s p o n s i b l e

fo r p r e p a r a t i o n of t h e A t l a s space l a un c h v e h i c l e s y s t e m for

l a u n c h a n d t h e c o n d u c t of t h e A t l a s p o r t i o n of t h e countdown.

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ATLAS BACKGROUND

DEPENDABILITY

L e s s t h a n o n e y e a r a g o , A t l a s l a u n c h v e h i c l e s w e r e i n v o lv e d i n

a m u l t i p l e l a u n c h program s i m i l a r i n many ways t o t h e M a r i n e r

Mars " d o u b l e p l a y " . T h r e e A t l a s v e h i c l e s were launched down t h e

P a c i f i c Miss i l e Range on t h e same day--December 1 8 , 1 96 3, on m i l i t a r y

a n d s c i e n t i f i c m is s i on s . A l l t h r e e w e r e s u c c e s s f u l .

T h o u g h m o d i f i c a t i o n s t o l a u n c h f a c i l i t i e s were n e c es s a ry i n

b o t h c a s e s , e x i s t i n g g ro un d s u p p o r t e qu ip me nt was r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e

t o meet t h e n e e d s of t h e p r o g ra m s i n v o l v e d . E x p e r i e n c e d a n d

a d a p t i b l e l au nc h crews a d d t o t h e m u l t i - m i s s i o n v e r s a t i l i t y of t h e

b a s i c A t l a s l a u n c h v e h i c l e .

A c a p a b i l i t y of l a u n c h i n g A t l a s space l a un c h v e h i c l e s from

e i t h e r U . S . t e s t r a n g e o f f e r s m i ss io n p l a n n e r s a n o t h e r p l u s i n

c o o r d i n a t i n g d e m a n d s of s p a c e p r o g r a m s w i t h r e a l i s t i c l a u n c h

p o s s i b i l i t i e s .

A t l a s i s t h e o n l y l a r g e f u l l y o p e r a t i o n a l s p ac e l au nc h v e h i c l e

i n t h e Free World t o d a y. T h e A t l a s s p a c e l a u n c h v e h i c l e h a s h ad a

remarkable degree of f l i g h t s u c c e s s . As of O c t o b e r 15, 1964 , t h e r e

h a d b e en t we nt y- on e ( 2 1) c o n s e c u t i v e s u c c e s s f u l A t l a s s p a c e l a u n c h

v e h i c l e f l i g h t s . T h i s e q u a l s a p r e v i o u s r eco rd s e t b y A t l a s d u r i n g

i t s r e s e a r c h and deve lopmen t program when 2 1 l a u n c h e s i n a r o w weres u c c e s s f u l .

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D u r i n g t h e f i s c a l y e a r b e g i nn i n g J u l y , 1963, a n d e n d i n g J u n e

30, 1964 , A t l a s s p a c e l a u nc h v e h i c l e s r a n u p a 100% s t r i n g of 14

s t r a i g h t s u c c e s s f u l f l i g h t s . T h e r e were no A t l a s space l a u n c h

f a i l u r e s d u r i n g t h a t 12-month pe r iod .

VERSATILITY-Known pr imar i ly a s a s t r a t e g i c w eapon s y s te m f o r t h e U. S .

A i r Force, A t l a s i s now b a s i c a l l y a s p a c e l a u n c h v e h i c l e . T h e r e

have been more t h a n 22 0 A t l a s l a u n c h e s f o r t h e A i r Force an d t h e

N a t i o n a l A e r o n a u t i c s a n d S p a ce A d m i n i s t r a t i o n .

Though i t p r o v i d e d t h e b o o s t f o r e a r l y U . S . space e f f o r t s i n

1958, a n d s u c c e s s f u l l y s e n t f o u r a s t r o n a u t s i n t o o r b i t f o r P r o j e c t

M er cu ry i n o n e of t h e m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t c h al l en g es of recorded

h i s t o r y , A t l a s h a s o n l y r e c e n t l y b egun t o f u l f i l l i t s p r o m i s e of

r e l i a b l e v e r s a t i l i t y .

I n a d d i t i o n t o i t s m u l t i - p u r p o s e work i n c o mb i na t io n w i t h t h e

Agena upper s t a g e f o r many space m i s s i o n s , A t l a s a s a space l a u n c h

v e h i c l e i s t h e boos t e r f o r t h e C e n t a u r h i g h e n e r g y u p p e r stage--

t h e n a t i o n ' s f i r s t l i q u i d - h y d r o g e n v e h i c l e t o f l y s u c c e s s f u l l y .

A t l a s space l a u nc h v e h i c l e s w i t h o ut u p pe r s t a g e s c a n perform

a v a r i e t y of u s e f u l m i s s i o ns f o r space r e sea rch a n d e x p l o r a t i o n , a s

exampled by use of t h e v e h i c l e i n t h e P r o j e c t F i r e m i s s i o n , w h e r e

A t l a s b o o s t s s o l i d - p r o p e l l e d packages t o h i g h r e - en t r y v e l o c i t i e sc o m p a r a b l e t o t h o s e o f s p a c e c r a f t r e t u r n i n g f r o m t h e moon.

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ATLAS FACTS

THREE V E R S I O N S

The A t l a s space l a un c h v e h i c l e c u r r e n t l y i s p r od u ce d i n t h r e e

v e r s i o n s :

1. The LV-3A, a n a d a p t a t i o n of t h e A t l a s S e r i e s D weapon

s y s t e m , i s m o d i f i e d f o r Agena mis s ions . The LV-3A a l s o i s b e i n g u s e d

i n P r o j e c t F i r e .

2 . The LV-3C, a s p e c i a l b o o s t e r s e r v i n g a s t h e f i r s t s t a g e of

t h e C e n t a u r h i g h - e n e rg y space v e h i c l e .3 . The SLV-3, a s t a n d a r d space l a un c h v e h i c l e i n c o r p o r a t i n g

d e s i g n i m p r o v e m e n t s e v o l v e d a s a r e s u l t of t h e e x p e r i e n c e a n d

k n ow l ed g e g a i n e d i n more t h a n 200 l a u n c h e s . I t w i l l r e p l a c e a l l

p r e s e n t A t l a s space l au nc h v e h i c l e s i n 1965.

ATLAS LV-3A STRUCTURE

The A t l a s LV-3A s t r u c t u r e c o n s i s t s of t h r e e p r i n c i p a l u n i t s - -

a p r o p e l l a n t t a n k s e c t i o n , t h e p r o p u l s i on s e c t i o n , a n d t h e i n t e r -

s t a g e a d a p t e r .

T he A t l a s i n t e g r a l t a n k r e q u i r e s n o i n t e r n a l b r a c i n g a nd i s

p r e s s u r i z e d t o m a i n t a i n r i g i d i t y an d s t r u c t u r a l i n t e g r i t y .

E l i m i n a t i o n of braces r e d u c e s w e i g h t , a l l o w i n g g r e a t e r r a n g e a n d

h e a v i e r p a y l o a d s .

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The main tank i s made of s p e c i a l c o l d - r o l l e d s t a i n l e s s s t e e l

formed i n t o a c y l i n d e r a n d w e l d e d , w i t h a b u l k h e a d a t e i t h e r end

a nd a n i n t e r m e d i a t e b u l k h e a d t o d i v i d e t h e t a n k i n t o t w o compar t -

men t s . The lower ( a f t ) c o m p a r t m e n t c o n t a i n s RP-1 f u e l , a n d t h e

t o p ( f or w ar d ) t a n k c o n t a i n s t h e l i q u i d o xy ge n o x i d i z e r . H el iu m

gas i s u s e d t o p r e s s u r i z e t h e t a n k .

ATLAS S TA G I N G

A t l a s h a s p i o n e e r e d a n u n u s u al method of s t a g i n g f o r l a u n c h

v e h i c l e s . C a l l e d a 1 4 - s t a g e v e h i c l e , t h e A t l a s i s e s p e c i a l l y

d e s i r a b l e f o r s pa c e l a un ch es s i n c e m is si on t r a j e c t o r i e s ca n be

" t a i l o r e d " t o a s p e c i f i c t a s k . T h i s i s b e c a u s e e n g i n e b u r n t i m e

c a n be v a r i e d , t h u s c h a n g i n g t h e t i m e h i s t o r y of t h e t h r u s t - t o -

w e i g h t r a t i o from m i s s i o n t o m i s s i o n .

PROPULSI ON

The A t l a s LV-3A r e c e i v e s i t s t h r u s t f rom t h e Rocke tdyne MA-5

p r o p u l s i o n s y s t e m c o n s i s t i n g of t w o 1 5 0 , 0 0 0 - p o u n d - t h r u s t b o o s t e r

( o u t b o a r d ) e n g i n e s , o n e 6 0 ,0 0 0- p ou n d- t hr u st s u s t a i n e r ( c e n t e r )

e n g i n e , a n d two v e r n i e r e n g i n e s a d d i n g a t o t a l o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y

2 , 0 0 0 pounds of t h r u s t . To t a l t h r u s t a t sea l e v e l i s more t h a n

360 ,000 pounds . L

E n g i n e s a r e s t a r t e d by h yp e r g ol i c i g n i t e r s u s in g a m i x t u r e of85% t r i - e t h y l a l u m i n a t e a n d 15% t r i - e t h y l b o r a t e w h i c h burn on

c o n t a c t w i t h t h e a i r i n e ng in e t h r u s t chambers, c a u s i n g i g n i t i o n

o f p r o p e l l a n t s .

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PROPELLANTS

The propellants used in the Atlas LV-3A are liquid oxygen and

RP-1, a hydrocarbon fuel. RP-1 fuel is maintained at ambient

temperature; the temperature of the liquid oxygen used as anoxidizer for the fuel is minus 297 degrees Fahrenheit.

RP-1 is usually pumped aboard the vehicle one day prior to

launch at a rate of approximately 1,000 gallons per minute. Liquid

oxygen is pumped into the forward tank of the LV-3A prior to launch

at about 2 , 0 0 0 gallons per minute. Propellant loading is controlled

remotely from the blockhouse.

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MODIFICATIONS FOR THIS M I S S I O N

T h r e e major c h a n g e s were made i n t h e A t l a s s p a c e l a u nc h v e h i c l e s

t o b e u s e d i n t h e M a r i n e r Mars f l i g h t s i n 1 9 64 . Th ey were made t o

i n s u r e more e f f i c i e n t p er fo rm an ce a n d a h i g h d e g r e e of r e l i a b i l i t y

i n t h e l au n ch v e h i c l e s . The c h a n g e s made i t p o s s i b l e f o r 39 pounds

of e x t r a w e i g h t t o be a d d e d t o t h e M a r i n e r Mars s p a c e c r a f t .

Two of t h e c h a n g e s a r e t h e d i r e c t r e s u l t of improvements

g e n er a t ed i n t h e deve lopmen t of t h e s t a n d a r d i z e d A t l a s s p a c e l a u n c h

v e h i c l e , t h e SLV-3. T h i s new and improved ve r s ion of A t l a s combines

t h e most e f f i c i e n t an d r e l i a b l e s y s t e m s d e v e l o p e d d u r i n g more t h a n

220 A t l a s l a u n c h e s - - t a k i n g t h e b e s t s y s t e m s from each p r e v i o u s

v e r s i o n of t h e A t l a s .

PROPULSION

A t l a s 288-D a n d A t l a s 289-D f o r t h e M a r i n e r Mars m i s s i o n a r e

e q u i p p e d w i t h t h e i m p r o v e d p r o p u l s i o n s y s t e m w h i c h i s now s tandard

equ ipmen t on t h e SLV-3. Among t h e a d v a n t a g e s of t h i s s y s t e m a r e

l o w e r - t h r u s t v e r n i e r e n g i n e s . Though a t f i r s t g l a n c e t h i s seem

a p a r a d o x , a c l o s e r e x a m i n a t i o n shows d e f i n i t e a dv an ta ge s .

By de - r a t in g t h e v e r n i e r e n g i n e s f rom 1 ,500 pounds t h r u s t t o

1 , 0 0 0 p o u n d s t h r u s t , t h e v e h i c l e u s e s l e s s p r o p e l l a n t d u r i n g

p o w e r e d f l i g h t . L e s s p r o p e l l a n t u s e d b y t h e v e r n i e r e n g i n e s m e a n s

more p r o p e l l a n t f o r u s e b y t h e s u s t a i n e r ( c e n t e r ) en g in e .

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A l l f i v e A t l a s e n g i n e s a r e i g n i t e d on t h e g r o u n d p r i o r t o l i f t -

o f f . The v e h i c l e i s h e l d down f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y t w o s e c o n d s a f t e r

e n g i n e i g n i t i o n b e f o r e r e l e a s e f o r f l i g h t . A f t e r t h e t w o b o o s t e r

e n g i n e s a r e j e t t i s o n e d , t h e s u s t a i n e r a nd v e r n i e r s c o nt i nu e t ob u r n t o p r o v i d e t h e f i n a l s ec on ds of t h r u s t t o t h e A t l a s , i t s upper

s t a g e , a n d t h e M a r i n e r s p a c e c r a f t . A f t e r s u s t a i n e r e n g i n e s h u t down

t h e v e r n i e r s c o n t i nu e bu rn in g f o r f i n a l v e l o c i t y a nd a t t i t u d e

a d j u s t m e n t s n e c e s s a r y f o r o r b i t .

T h e b o o s t e r , s u s t a i n e r , a nd v e r n i e r e n g i n e s i n t h e improved

SLV-3 p r o p u l s i o n s y s t e m n o r m al l y g e n e r a t e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 390,000

pounds of t h r u s t a s compared w i t h t h e 3 6 0 , 0 0 0 p ou nd s of t h r u s t

g e n e r a t e d b y A t l a s LV-3 eng ines . However, f o r t h e Mar ine r Mars

f l i g h t s , t h e h i g h e r t h r u s t of t h e SLV-3 e n g i n e s w a s n ot i n i t s e l f

enough of a n a d v a n t a g e t o be r e t a i n e d . The g r e a t e r e f f i c i e n c y a n d

r e l i a b i l i t y of t h e improved s y s t e m w a s , n e v e r t h e l e s s , d e s i r a b l e .

T h e r e f o r e , t h e improved SLV-3 e n g i n e s were down r a t e d t o

3 6 0 , 0 0 0 pounds of t h r u s t f o r t h e M a r i ne r m i s s i o n - - a n o t h e r a p p a r e n t

pa radox . Down r a t i n g of t h e h i g h e r - t h r u s t p r o p u l s i o n s y st em w a s

a c c o m p l i s h e d by s lowing down turbopumps w h i c h pump t h e p r o p e l l a n t s

i n t o t h e t h r u s t chambers. T h i s means l e s s p r o p e l l a n t i s d e l i v e r e d

t o t h e t h r u s t chambers a n d b u r n e d t h e r e b y l o w e r i n g t h e t h r u s t l e v e l

of t h e e n g i n e s . T h i s w a s n o t a major hardware change .

I f t h e h i g h e r t h r u s t had b ee n m a i n t a i n e d , s t r o n g e r an d h e a v i e rA t l a s t a n k s k i n s w o u l d have been needed on t h e a f t end of t h e A t l a s

f u e l t a n k an d on t h e t h r u s t c o n e t o w h ic h t h e s u s t a i n e r e n g i n e i s

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a t t a c h e d . T he h e a v i e r t a n k s t r u c t u r e w o u l d h a v e b e e n n e c e s s a r y

because of t h e i n c r e a s e d f o r c e e x e r t e d by t h e m o r e p o w e r f u l e n g i n e s

on t h e t a n k s t r u c t u r e . The h i g h e r t h r u s t w i t h i t s r e s u l t i n g

i n c r e a s e i n t a n k w e i g h t o f a b o u t 6 5 pounds would have been a d i s -

a d v a n t a g e f o r t h e M a r i n e r f l i g h t s .

B e c a u s e of t h e p r o p u l s i o n s y s t e m i mp ro ve me nt s made f o r t h e

two Ma ri ne r A t l a s e s , a p p r 9 x i s a t e l y 10 a d d i t i o n a l pounds of p a y l o a d

were made a v a i l a h l e t o Ma ri ne r s p a c e c r a f t e n g i n e e r s .

TELEMETRY- A s e c on d m a jo r m o d i f i c a t i o n f o r t h i s m i s s i o n i n v o l v e d l i g h t e rw e i g h t t e l e m e t r y p a c k a g e s fo r t h e two A t l a s v e h i c l e s . T h e s e a r e

s i m i l a r t o b o t h t h e l i g h t w e i g h t t e l e m e t r y p ac k ag e s u s e d on P r o j e c t

Mercury A t l a s v e h i c l e s a n d t o t h o s e i n u s e on t h e S LV- 3 . U s e of

t h e s e u n i t s r e d u c e d A t l a s weight by 90 pounds w h i c h i n t u r n

a l lowed a n i n c r e a s e i n s p a c e c r a f t w e i g h t b y a n o t h e r 9 pounds .

PITCH PROGRAM--_I_--T h e t h i r d m a j o r m o d i f i c a t i o n r e l a t e d t o t h e p i t c h p r o g r a m f o r

t h e tw o A t l a s s p a c e l a u n c h v e h i c l e s . T h e p i t c h p ro gra m i s a maneuver

w h i c h b e g i n s 15 s e c o n d s a f t e r l i f t o f f o f t h e v e h i c l e .

The A t l a s a u t o p i l o t g e n e r a t e s t h e p i t c h p ro gr am w h i c h g r a d u a l l y

g u i d e s t h e v e h i c l e t o w a r d a h o r i z o n t a l p o s i t i o n fo r s e p a r a t i o n of

t h e u p p e r s t a g e a n d s p a c e c r a f t .

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By k e e p i n g t h e v e h i c l e s l i g h t l y c l o s e r t o t h e e a r t h d u r in g t h e

g r a d u a l t i l t t oward t h e h o r i z o n t a l ( r e d u c i n g t h e a n g l e of t h e f l i g h t

p a t h w i t h r e l a t i o n t o t h e e a r t h ) , e sc ap e v e l o c i t y f o r t h e s p a c e -

c r a f t i s a c h i e v e d more r a p i d l y an d b e t t e r p e rf or ma nc e r e s u l t s .

E s c a p e v e l o c i t y f o r t h e s p a c e c r a f t i s a c h i e v e d b y t h e v e l o c i t y

i m p a r t e d b y t h e A t l a s a n d t h e v e l o c i t y p r ov i de d by t h e Agena upper

s t a g e .

T h u s by t a i l o r i n g t h e p i t c h p rog ra m u s e d on t h e s e Mar ine r-

A t l a s v e h i c l e s t o t h e p a r t i c u l a r pa yl oa d we ig h t an d t h e t h ree -week

l a u n c h o p p o r t u n i t y, a p a y l oa d i n c r e a s e of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 0 p ou nd s

w a s a l l o w a b l e .

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18/22

ATLAS FLIGHT

O B J E C T I V E S-T h e p r i m a r y t e s t o b j e c t i v e s f o r t h e A t l a s s p a c e l a u n ch v e h i c l e s

t o be u se d i n t h e Mars f l y b y a t t e m p t a r e :

(1 ) To bo os t t h e u p p e r s t a g e Agena v e h i c l e i n t o t h e p r o p e r

c o a s t e l l i p s e a s d e f i n e d by t h e t r a j e c t o r y a n d g u i d a n c e e q u a t i o n s .

(2) To e f f e c t s e p a r a t i o n of t h e Agena and s t a r t t h e Agena

t i m e r by i n i t i a t i o n of t h e p ro p er commands t o t h e u p p e r s t a g e , a n d

( 3 ) To d e t e r m i n e A t l a s s y s t e m s p e r f o r m a n c e f rom t e l e m e t r y

d a t a .

FLIGHT SEQUENCE

T h e r e a r e s i x p r i n c i p a l e v e n t s i n A t l a s LV-3A f l i g h t s f o r

P r o j e c t M a r i n e r . E a c h of t h e s e e v e n t s i s d e s c r i b e d below. T repre-

s e n t s t w o - i n c h m o t io n d u r i ng l i f t o f f .

1. Ve r t i c a l r i s e - - I m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r l i f t o f f , a 13-second

r o l l program i s a c c o m p l i s h e d t o a l i g n t h e v e h i c l e w i t h t h e t r a -

j e c t o r y or l a u n c h a z i m u t h . T h i s i s t i m e d b y t h e A t l a s a u t o p i l o t

p r o g r a m e r w h i c h i s s t a r t e d when t h e v e h i c l e h a s r i s e n t w o i n c h e s o f f

t h e p a d .

2 . P i t c h - o v e r -- F o l l o w i n g t h e r o l l program t h e A t l a s b e g i n s

a g r a d u a l p i t c h - o v e r t o w a r d a h o r i z o n t a l p o s i t i o n u nd er t h e c o n t r o l

of t h e a u t o p i l o t f l i g h t p r o g r a m e r. P i t c h - o v e r i s c o n t r o l l e d by

g i m b a l i n g t h e b o o s t e r ( o ut b oa r d) e n g i n e s u n t i l b o o s t e r e n g i n e c u t -

o f f ( B E C O ) . T h e r e a f t e r , t h e s u s t a i n e r ( c e n t e r ) en g i ne i s f r e e d t o

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g i m b a l a n d c o n t i n u e s t o c o n t r o l v e h i c l e p i t c h u n t i l s u s t a i n e r e n g i ne

C u t - O f f (SECO) .

3. S t a g i n g -- T h e s t a g i n g o p e r a t i o n p r e p a r es f o r t h e j e t t i s o n

of t h e t w o b o o s t e r e n g i n e s . A t t h e end of t h e p r e d e t e r m i n e d

b o os t e r f l i g h t p e r i od , a s t a g i n g command from t h e ground i n i t i a t e s

a s e q u e n c e r e s u l t i n g i n BECO a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y T p l u s t w o m i n u t e s .

The b o o s t e r s e c t i o n a n d a s s o c i a t e d eq ui pm en t s e p a r a t e from t h e

v e h i c l e , moving a l o n g g u i d e r a i l s and f a l l i n g i n t o s pa ce . A f t e r

b o o s t e r s t a g i n g , t h e v e h i c l e f l i g h t a t t i t u d e i n p i t c h and yaw i s

m a i n ta i n ed t h r o u g h c o n t r o l of t h e s u s t a i n e r e n g i n e , a n d r o l l

a t t z t u d e i s c o n t r o l l e d b y g i m b a l i n g t h e t w o v e r n i e r e n gi n es .

4 . S u s t a i n e r E n g i n e Cutoff (SECO) - - Shutdown of t h e c e n t e r

or s u s t a i n e r e n g i n e i s a c c o m p l i s h e d b y a s i g n a l f ro m g ro un d

g u i d a n c e . T h e f l i g h t p r o g r a m e r s i m u l t a n e o u s l y g e n e r a t e s c o m m a n d s

t o t r a n s f e r f u l l v e h i c l e a t t i t u d e c o n t r o l t o t h e v e r n i e r e n g i n e s .

5. Vernier Engine Cutoff (VECO) -- T h i s s e q u e n c e s h u t s d o w n

t h e two v e r n i e r e n g i n e s a n d p r e p a r e s t h e Agena s t a g e f o r s e p a r a t i o n .

I t i s i n i t i a t e d by a g r o u n d g u i d a n c e s i g n a l .

6 . S e p a r a t i o n -- T h e s e p a r a t i o n of t h e A t l a s l a un c h v e h i c l e

f rom t h e Agena i s s t a r t e d by a g ro un d g u id a nc e s i g n a l . S e p a r a t i o n

f o l l o w s VECO a l m o s t i m m ed i a te l y. An e l e c t r o - e x p l o s i v e d e v i c e i s

f i r e d , r e l e a s i n g t h e A t l a s from t h e Agena and i t s p a y l o a d . Two

s o l i d - p r o p e l l a n t r e t r o r o c k e t s f i r e t o s l o w down t h e A t l a s , a l l o w i n gf o r c o m p l e t e e s c a p e of t h e Agena and pay l oad . Complet e d i se ngag e -

ment t a k e s 1 4 s e c o n d s .

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LAUNCH COMPLEXES

T h e M a r i n e r Mars s p a c e c r a f t w i l l s t a r t t h e i r f l i g h t s a t

l a u n c h c o m p l e x 13 a n d l a u n c h c o mp le x 1 2 a t Cape Kennedy, F l a .

Launch complex 12 i s s c h e d u l e d t o l a u n c h more A t l a s s p a c e l a u n c h

v e h i c l e f l i g h t s t h a n an y o t h e r complex a t Cape Kennedy.

I n a d d i t i o n t o M a r in e r f l i g h t s , complex 12 i s s l a t e d f o r

l a u n c h i n g s o f Ranger s p a c e c r a f t , F i r e r e - e n t r y v e l o c i t y p a ck a ge s ,

O r b i t i n g G e o p h y s i c a l O b s e r v a t o r y (OGO) s a t e l l i t e s , a n d O r b i t i n g

A s t r o n o m i c a l O b s e r v a t o r y (OAO) s p a c e c r a f t . O r i o n Reed i s t h e

l a u n c h c o n d u c t o r a t complex 12 f o r t h e A s t r o n a u t i c s d i v i s i o n o f

Genera l Dynamics Corp .

Complex 13 w i l l be t h e s i t e of f u t u r e l a u n c h e s o f L un ar

O r b i t e r s p a c e c r a f t f o r moon s u r f a c e r e s e a r c h f o r P r o j e c t A p o l lo ,

a nd fo r Vela P r og ra m l a u n c h e s of n u c l e a r d e t e c t i o n s a t e l l i t e s .

C a l Fowle r i s l a u n c h c o n d u c t o r a t complex 13 f o r t h e A s t r o n a u t i c s

d i v i s i o n .

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ATLAS MISSIONS

PAYLOADS -- C u r r e n t NASA m i ss io n s ( i n a d d i t i o n t o M a r i n e r ) s c h e d u l e d

f o r A t l a s i n c l u d e :1. RANGER -- A l u n a r r e s e a r c h program, w i t h t e l e v i s i o n

cameras t r a n s m i t t i n g c lo se -u p p i c t u r e s of t h e s u r f a c e of t h e moon

d u r i ng t h e l a s t f e w m i n u t e s of f l i g h t as t h e Ranger s p a c e c r a f t

d e s c e n d s t o w a r d a h a r d l a n d i n g .

2 . OG O ( O r b i t i n g G e o p hy s i ca l O b s e rv a t or y ) -- A s t a n d a r d i z e d

s p a c e c r a f t d e s i gn e d t o accommodate a v a r i e t y of g e o p h y s i c a l e x p e r i -

ments t o be l au nc he d i n t o a n e c c e n t r i c o r b i t .

3. OAO ( O r b i t i n g A s t r o n o m i c a l O b se r v a t o r y ) -- A s c i e n t i f i c

s a t e l l i t e t o make t e l e s c o p i c o b s e r v a t i o n s of u l t r a v i o l e t , i n f r a r e d ,

a n d x - ra y r a n g e s from a p r e c i s e l y s t a b i l i z e d o r b i t i n g p l a t f o r m

a b o v e t h e o b s c u r i n g e f f e c t s of t h e e a r t h ' s a t m o s p h e r e .

4 . CENTAUR -- L a u n c h i n g h i g h -e n e rgy l i q u i d hy dr og en -p ow er ed

C e n t a u r u p p e r s t a g e s (unde r deve lopmen t by t h e A s t r o n a u t i c s

d i v i s i o n ) f o r S u r v e y o r a n d o t h e r m i s s i o n s . S u r v e y o r i s d e s i g n e d

fo r s o f t l a n d i n g s o n t h e moon t o p r o v i d e : l u n a r d a t a i n s up p o r t o f '

P r o j e c t A p o l lo ; t e c h n i q u e s of c o n t r o l , g u i d a n c e , c o m mu ni ca ti on ,

a n d l a n d i n g f o r m a n n e d e x p e d i t i o n s , a n d t o o b t a i n b a s i c s c i e n t i f i c

d a t a a b o u t t h e moon.

5. FIRE - - T e s t i n g of v e h i c l e s and s y s t e m s d u r i n g a t m o s p h e r i c

r e - e n t r y a t h i g h v e l o c i t i e s .

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6 . G E M I N I TARGET -- The second U . S . manned s p a c e f l i g h t

program t o p r o v i d e e x p e r i e n c e i n re n d e zv o u s a n d d o c k i n g , p e r f or m

e a r t h - o r b i t a l f l i g h t s up t o 1 4 da y s, a nd d e m o n st r a te c o n t r o l l e d

r e - e n t r y a n d l a n d l a n d i n g s . T h e A i r F o r c e w i l l l a un ch Agena

v e h i c l e s w i t h A t l a s t o s e r v e a s r en de zv ou s t a r g e t s f o r t h e t w o -

man Gemin i spacec ra f t .

7 . LUNAR O R B I T E R - - L au nch o f s p a c e c r a f t t o o r b i t t h e moon,

t a k e c l o s e up p i c t u r e s of t h e l u n a r s u r f a c e a n d t r a n s m i t t h e m t o

e a r t h . L u n a r o r b i t e r s p a c e c r a f t w i l l s e c u r e t o p o g r a p h i c d a t a f o r

t h e s e l e c t i o n a n d c o n f i r m a t i o n of l a n d i n g s i t e s f o r P r o j e c t A p o l l omanned l u n a r l a n d i n g m i s s i o n s .

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Mariner Mars Atlas Space Launch Vehicle Information

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