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Star (rocket stage)

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The Star is a family of US solid-propellant rocket motors originally developed by Thiokol and used by many space propulsion and launch vehicle stages. They are used almost exclusively as an upper stage, often as an apogee kick motor. The number designations refer to the approximate diameter of the fuel casing in inches.

Three Star 37 stages, and one Star 48 stage, were launched on solar escape trajectories; fast enough to leave the Sun's orbit and out into interstellar space, where barring the low chance of colliding with debris, they will travel past other stars in the Milky Way galaxy and survive potentially intact for millions of years.

Star 13

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The Star 13 (TE-M-458) is a solid fuel apogee kick motor.[1][2] It was used on NASA's Anchored Interplanetary Monitoring Platform satellites.[3] Several other versions were developed.[1][4][5][6][7][8][9][2] Star 13D (TE-M-375) was used on the Syncom 1, Star 13A (TE-M-516) on LES 1/2, Aurora (P67-1), Orbiscal (P68-1), Lincoln Calibration Sphere 4, S3-2, Solrad 11A/B, SPX plume generator package, Freja, Meteor and Equator-S, Star C (TE-M-345-11/12) on AMSAT P3A and Star B (TE-M-763) on AMPTE-CCE payloads.[3]

Thiokol Star 13 family[1][4][5][6][7][8][9][2]
Name Thiokol# Mass (kg) Prop. mass fract. Imp. Burn (s)
Total Empty Spec., Isp (s) Tot. (kgf-sec)
Star 13 TE-M-458 36 5 0.869 273 8,524 22
Star 13A TE-M-516 38 5 0.87 287 9,544 15
Star 13B TE-M-763 47 6 0.87 286 11,807 15
Star 13C TE-M-345-11/12 38 8 0.795 218 8,252
Star 13D TE-M-375 35 6 0.81 223 7,799
Star 13E TE-M-385 31 6 0.822 211 6,438
Star 13F TE-M-444 40 7 0.83 240 9,608

Star 17

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The Star 17 (TE-M-479) is a solid fuel apogee kick motor, first launched in 1963.[10] It was used for payloads such as Radio Astronomy Explorer, SOLRAD and S3 satellites. The Star 17A (TE-M-521-5) version was used for orbit circularization on Skynet 1, NATO 1, IMP-H and IMP-J satellites.[10][11]

Thiokol Star 17 family[10][11]
Name Thiokol# Mass (kg) Prop. mass fract. Imp. Burn (s) Length (m)
Total Empty Prop. Spec., Isp (s) Tot. (kgf-sec)
Star 17 TE-M-479 79 9 70 0.881 286 20177 18 0.98
Star 17A TE-M-521-5 126 14 112 0.903 287 32556 19 0.98

Star 20 (Altair-3A)

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The Star 20 (TE-M-640) is a solid fuel apogee kick motor, also known as Altair-3A.[12] It was used as a second stage on a Atlas-E/F vehicle launching Stacksat.[13][14] The TE-M-640 motor is similar to Altair 3 (FW-4S), and both are designated by NASA as Altair IIIA.[15]

Thiokol Star 20 family[12]
Name Thiokol# Mass (kg) Prop. mass fract. Imp.
Total Prop. Spec., Isp (s) Tot. (kNs)
Star-20-Spherical TE-M-251 123 114.8 0.934 234 296.25
Star-20 TE-M-640-1 300.9 273.2 0.908 286.5 771.77
Star-20A TE-M-640-3 314.3 286.0 0.910 291.9 822.48
Star-20B TE-M-640-4 306.7 273.8 0.893 289.1 776.53

Star 24

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The Star 24 (TE-M-604) is a solid fuel apogee kick motor, first qualified in 1973.[16][17] It burns an 86% solids carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene (CTPB)[broken anchor]-based composite propellant.[16][18] The "24" designation refers to the approximate diameter of the Titanium fuel casing in inches.[16]

Thiokol Star 24 family[16][19][20][21]
Name Thiokol# Mass (kg) Prop. mass fract. Imp. Burn (s) Length (m)
Total Empty Prop. Spec., Isp (s) Tot. (kNs)
Star 24 TE-M-604 218.2 18.33 199.9 0.916 282.9 560.5 29.6 1.03
Star 24A TE-M-604-2 198 19 179 0.903 282 500
Star 24B TE-M-604-3 219 19 200 0.915 283 561.6
Star 24C TE-M-604-4 239.3 19.73 219.5 0.92 282.3 613.9 28.0 1.07

Star 26

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The Star 26 (Burner 2A or TE-M-442) is a upper stage motor used in Burner II stage of the Sandia Strypi IV vehicle introduced in 1965.[22] The Star 26B (TE-M-442-1) variant was used on the Thor-LV2F Burner-2A launcher.[23] Star 26C (TE-M-442-2) was used on the DOT sounding rocket.[24][25]

Thiokol Star 26 family[22][23][24]
Name Thiokol# Mass (kg) Prop. mass fract. Imp. Burn (s)
Total Empty Spec., Isp (s) Tot. (kN)
Star 26 TE-M-442 268 37 0.86 220 39.10 18
Star 26B TE-M-442-1 261 23 0.91 272 34.63 18
Star 26C TE-M-442-2 264 32 0.88 272 35 17

Star 27

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Star 27
A Star-27 kick motor with nozzle for IBEX
Country of originUnited States
Solid-fuel motor

The Star 27 is a solid apogee kick motor, with the 27 representing the approximate diameter of the stage in inches.[26][27] It burns HTPB-based composite propellant with an average erosion rate of 0.0011 inches per second (0.028 mm/s).[28][26]

It as used as a second stage on a version of the Atlas E/F rocket, launching the Solwind and Geosat satellites.[29] When used on the Pegasus air-launch rocket payloads are capable of leaving Earth orbit.[26]

A version of the Star 27, designated Star 27H,[30] was used in the launch of the IBEX spacecraft.[31] The spacecraft had a mass of 105 kg by itself and together with its Star 27 motor, 462 kg.[31] The Star 27H helped it get to a higher orbit, beyond Earth's magnetosphere.[31]

Thiokol Star-27 family[32][33][34][35][36]
Name Thiokol# Mass (kg) Prop. mass fract. Imp.
Total Empty Spec., Isp (s) Tot. (kgf-sec)
Star 27 TE-M-616 361 27 0.924 288 96986
Star 27A TE-M-616-1 336 27 0.919 288 89684
Star 27B TE-M-616-4 345 28 0.921 288 92296
Star 27C TE-M-616-5 333 28 0.918 288 88555
Star 27D TE-M-616-8 332 26 0.921 288 88668
Star 27E TE-M-616-9 331 26 0.921 287 88301

Star 30

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The Star 30 (TE-M-700-2) is a solid fuel motor, with the 30 representing the approximate diameter of the stage in inches.[37] Different versions (A, B, C, E and PB) were used as an apogee motor for satellites such as G-STAR, Skynet 4, Koreasat or the HS-376 satellite bus.[37] Star 30E was used by the ORBEX small orbital launcher.[37] A Star 30 booster was also used on the CONTOUR comet probe.[38]

Thiokol Star-30 family[37][39][40][41][42][43]
Name Thiokol# Mass (kg) Prop. mass fract. Imp.
Total Empty Spec., Isp (s) Tot. (kgf-sec)
Star 30 TE-M-700-2 492 28 0.943 293 136455
Star 30A TE-M-700-4 492 28 0.942 295 137095
Star 30B TE-M-700-5 537 32 0.941 293 148816
Star 30C TE-M-700-18 630 39 0.939 287 171002
Star 30E TE-M-700-19 667 45 0.932 291 182216
Star 30PB TE-M-700-20 543 38 0.931 292 148816

Star 31 (Antares 1A)

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The Star 31 (also known as Antares 1A or X-254) is a solid fuel motor, with the 31 representing the approximate diameter of the stage in inches.[44] It had a thrust of 60.50 kN and a mass of 1225 kg.[44] It was used as a stages of WASP, Scout X, Scout X-1, Blue Scout Junior, Blue Scout I, Blue Scout II, Scout X-1A and RAM B.[44]

Star 37

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Star-37
TE-M-364
Country of originUnited States
Date1963-present
ManufacturerThiokol
ApplicationUpper stage/Spacecraft propulsion
PredecessorStar 27
SuccessorStar 48
StatusActive
Solid-fuel motor
Configuration
Chamber1
Performance
Thrust, vacuum33.600 kN (7,554 lbf)
Specific impulse, vacuum(161,512 N•s/kg)
Dimensions
Length2.27 m (7.44 ft)
Diameter0.66 m (2.16 ft)
Empty mass113 kg (249 lb)
Used in
Thor (rocket family), Delta (rocket family), upper stage

The Star 37 was first used as the engine for the Thor-Burner upper stage in 1965. The Burner I used the Thiokol FW-4 (TE 364-1) engine and the Burner II used the Thiokol (TE-M-364-2).[45]

The "-37" designation refers to the approximate diameter of the titanium fuel casing in inches; Thiokol had also manufactured other motors such as the Star-40 and Star 48. Internally, Thiokol's designation was TE-M-364 for early versions, TE-M-714 for later ones, and TE-M-783 for a special HTPB model used for FLTSATCOM launches.

Subtypes are given one or more letter suffixes after the diameter number, or a trailing number (i.e., "-2") after the internal designation. Not surprisingly, the "T" prefix stands for Thiokol, and the following letter refers to the company division that developed the rocket motor. In this case, "M" refers to the Magna, UT Division. "E" refers to the Elkton, MD division.

The Star 37FM rocket motor was developed and qualified for use as an apogee kick motor on FLTSATCOM. The motor is a replacement for the Star 37E Delta, which has been discontinued. The Nozzle assembly uses a 3D carbon-carbon throat and a carbon-phenolic exit cone. Maximum propellant weight is 2,350 pounds (1,070 kg), while the motor has been qualified for propellant off-loading to 2,257 pounds (1,024 kg).

A spin-stabilized or thrust-vectoring version of Star 37 is used as the final stage of the Minotaur V launch vehicle.[46][47]

The Pioneer 10 & 11, and Voyager 1 & 2 Propulsion Modules used Star 37E motors; each is now on a similar interstellar trajectory to its companion probe, and is set to leave the Solar System (except the Pioneer 11 stage, which is thought to have remained in solar orbit[48]).

Thiokol Star-37 family
Name (Thiokol#) Mass (kg) Prop. mass fract. Prop. Thrust, vac. (kN) Imp. Burn (s) Length (m) Remark
Total Empty Prop. Spec., Isp (s) Tot. (kNs)
Star-37 (TE-M-364-1) 621.2 62.7 558.4 0.899 Solid 43.50 260.0 1584.46 42 0.80
Star-37B (TE-M-364-2) 718.4 64.7 653.7 0.910 Solid ? 291.0 1858.91 ? ?
Star-37C (TE-M-364-18) 1047.5 82.8 964.7 0.921 Solid ? 285.5 2707.19 ? ?
Star-37D (TE-M-364-3) 718.4 64.7 653.7 0.910 Solid ? 266.0 1858.91 ? ?
Star-37E (TE-M-364-4) 1122.7 83.1 1039.6 0.926 Solid ? 283.6 2910.03 ? ? Discontinued
Star-37F (TE-M-364-19) 934.1 67.3 866.8 0.928 Solid ? 286.0 2444.46 ? ? Discontinued
Star-37FM (TE-M-783) 1147.4 81.5 1065.9 0.929 HTPB 47.26 289.8 3051.35 63 1.69 Developed and qualified for use as an apogee kick motor on FLTSATCOM
Star-37G (TE-M-364-11) 1152.4 86.4 1065.9 0.925 Solid ? 289.9 2988.36 ? ?
Star-37N (TE-M-364-14) 622.9 63.5 559.3 0.898 Solid ? 290.0 1590.24 ? ?
Star-37S (TE-M-364-15) 711.4 53.4 658.0 0.925 Solid ? 287.3 1872.43 ? ?
Star-37X (TE-M-714-1) 1150.0 82.8 1067.2 0.928 Solid 51.10 295.6 3047.69 60 ?
Star-37XE (TE-M-714-4) ? ? ? ? Solid ? ? ? ? ?
Star-37XF (TE-M-714-6) 953.2 67.7 885.4 0.929 Solid ? 290.0 2542.03 ? ?
Star-37XF (TE-M-714-8) 882.5 67.1 815.4 0.924 Solid ? 291.1 2342.74 ? ?
Star-37XFP (TE-M-714-17/18) 955.3 71.7 883.6 0.925 HTPB 38.03 290.0 2537.49 67 1.50 Qualified as the orbit insertion motor for Boeing's Global Positioning Satellite (GPS), and as the apogee motor for the RCA SATCOM Ku-Band satellite.
Star-37Y (TE-M-714-2) 1152.1 80.6 1071.4 0.930 Solid ? 297.0 3118.20 ? ?

Star 48

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Star 48
Star-48B rocket motor
Country of originUnited States
Date1982 - present
ManufacturerThiokol
PredecessorStar 37
Solid-fuel motor
Main article: Star 48

The Star 48 is a type of solid rocket motor developed primarily by Thiokol Propulsion, which was purchased by Orbital ATK in 2001.[49] In 2018, Orbital ATK in turn was acquired by Northrop Grumman.

The "48" designation refers to the approximate diameter of the fuel casing in inches; Thiokol had also manufactured other motors such as the Star 37 and Star 30. Internally, Thiokol's designation was TE-M-711 for early versions, and TE-M-799 for later ones. Subtypes are given one or more letter suffixes after the diameter number, or a trailing number (i.e., "-2") after the internal designation. The "T" prefix stands for Thiokol, and the following letter refers to the company division that developed the rocket motor. In this case, "E" refers to the Elkton, MD division and the "M" stands for motor.

The most common use of the Star 48 was as the final stage of the Delta II launch vehicles. Other launchers such as ULA's Atlas 551 have also incorporated the motor, but with lower frequency. Onboard the Space Shuttle, the complete stage (motor plus accessories) was referred to as the Payload Assist Module (PAM), as the Shuttle could only take satellites to low Earth orbit. Because geostationary orbit is much more lucrative, the additional stage was needed for the final leg of the journey. On such missions, the stage was spin-stabilized. A turntable, mounted in the shuttle payload bay or atop the previous Delta stage, spun the PAM and payload to approximately 60 rpm prior to release.

Usually after motor burnout and just prior to satellite release the spin is canceled out using a yo-yo de-spin technique.

A non-spinning, thrust-vectoring version of the Star 48 is available ("Star 48BV"), but much less common. A thrust-vectoring Star 48 is the final stage of the Minotaur IV launch vehicle.

A Star 48B motor used in the 3rd stage of the New Horizons probe was the first part of the New Horizons mission to reach Jupiter, crossing Pluto's orbit in 2015 at a distance of 200 million kilometers.[50] It is now set to leave the Solar System, traveling on a similar interstellar trajectory to its companion probe for the indefinite future.

In 2013 a Star 48GXV was tested for the Parker Solar Probe mission as the upper stage on an Atlas V 551 vehicle,[51] but the development was canceled, in favor of a Delta IV Heavy / Star 48BV combination. The Star 48GXV boasted a carbon composite casing and nozzle, enabling it to operate at triple the chamber pressure of an ordinary Star 48. It also featured electro-mechanical actuators to gimbal the nozzle, along with digital flight controls.[52]

Star 63

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The Star 63 is a solid fuel motor, with the 63 representing the approximate diameter of the stage in inches. Different versions exist: Star-63D (used on PAM-D2), Star-63DV and Star-63F.[53][54] It was used to launch payloads from the Space Shuttle, and as stage on the Titan 34D and Delta 7925 rockets.[53][54]

Thiokol Star-63 family[53][54]
Name Thiokol# Mass (kg) Prop. mass fract. Imp. Burn (s)
Total Empty Spec., Isp (s) Tot. (kNs)
Star-63D TU-936 3499.1 248.4 0.929 283.0 9043.23 118
Star-63DV 118
Star-63F TE-M-963 4590.4 325.9 0.929 297.1 12530.64 120

References

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  2. ^ a b c "Star-13". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  3. ^ a b "Star 13". www.planet4589.org. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
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  9. ^ a b "Star 13F". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
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  16. ^ a b c d "Orbital ATK Propulsion Products Catalog (October 2016) - Page 84-85" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
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  18. ^ C.E.Carr II and D.W.Walstrum - Solid Rocket Propulsion for Small-Satellite Applications, Presented at Third Annual AIAA/Utah State University Conference on Small Satellites, Utah State University, Logan, Utah (26-28 September 1989) - Page 9
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  25. ^ "DOT". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
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  30. ^ "Les lanceurs Pegasus". www.capcomespace.net. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  31. ^ a b c IBEX
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  45. ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/thor.htm Global Security
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  50. ^ Derelict Booster to Beat Pluto Probe to Jupiter
  51. ^ ATK and NASA Successfully Demonstrate New Rocket Motor for Solar Probe Plus Mission
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