Accession Number:

AD0485413

Title:

FLIGHT EVALUATION REPORT VEHICLE 303D.

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

GENERAL DYNAMICS SAN DIEGO CA CONVAIR DIV

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

1966-05-16

Pagination or Media Count:

70.0

Abstract:

Vehicle 303D was launched from Complex 576A, Pad 1, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, at 0429 hours Pacific Standard Time on 4 March 1966. The Atlas boosters primary objective was to place the Re-entry Vehicle RV in a trajectory compatible with the RV mission. Operation of the Atlas booster vehicle was unsatisfactory and the problems encountered included failure of the sustainer hydraulic system at staging and a ground guidance system failure. The purpose of this report is to present the results of the Atlas flight performance analysis and post flight investigations. The principal areas of investigation covered are the sustainer hydraulic system staging failure and the bround guidance failure.

Descriptors:

• (*REENTRY VEHICLES
• FLIGHT TESTING)
• ATMOSPHERE ENTRY
• TEST VEHICLES
• LAUNCHING
• LAUNCH VEHICLES
• BOOSTER ROCKETS
• LIQUID PROPELLANT ROCKET ENGINES
• FAILURE
• SECOND STAGE MOTORS
• HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT
• COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
• FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS
• FAILURE(MECHANICS)
• GUIDED MISSILE TRACKING SYSTEMS

Subject Categories:

• Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines
• Unmanned Spacecraft
• Ground Support Systems and Facilities for Space Vehicles

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE