Atlas Centaur AC-9 Press Kit
Atlas Centaur AC-9 Press Kit
Atlas Centaur AC-9 Press Kit
CONTENTS
S
GENERAL RELEASE ---------------------------------- 1-3
MISSION DESCRIPTION-------------------------------4
Test Objectives--------------------------------4-3
LAUNCH VEHICLE-----------------------------------6-7
Mass Model------------------------------------8
Instrumentation and Tracking------------------8-9
Flight Plan------------------------------------9-10
CENTAUR PROJECT TEAM------------------------------10-11
ATLAS-CENTAUR FLIGHT SEQUENCE---------------------12
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10/14/66
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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION WO 2-4155
N5 C WASHINGTON,D.C. 20546 WO 3-6925
AC-9 LAUNCH
SCHEDJULED OCT. 25
AT CAPE KENNEDY
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lO/14/66
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hydrogen/oxygen engines.
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Data from the AC-8 mission indicated all other Centaur
systems operated well, including a new balanced-thrust vent
system designed to provide proper venting of gaseous hydrogen.
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MISSION DESCRIPTION
Test Objectives
Using the Earth parking orbit, Centaur can fly into a low
Earth orbit, coast until the Earth and Moon are in a favorable
intercept relationship, then inject its payload toward the Moon.
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LAUNCH VEHICLE
(All Figures Approximate)
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Mass Model
The 1,600-pound mass model which AC-9 will carry does not
resemble a Surveyor spacecraft in appearance but is ballasted
to simulate Surveyor's retrorocket and solar panel/planar array
antenna assemblies. The model also will be equipped with an
S-band transponder to permit post-separation tracking.
The model is designed for in-flight separation using an
operational-type Surveyor separation system.
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Flight Plan
As Centaur's engines are shut down and the coast phase begins,
two 50-pound-thrust hydrogen-peroxide rockets are fired for about
75 seconds to settle the propellants because the vehicle is in
a weightless condition.
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ATLAS-CEN1AUh FLIGHT SEQUENCE
Liftoff 0 0 0 0