Carrier Rocket Tronador
The Thunderer, its satellite launcher of Argentina.
The Thunderer, satellites designed to inject a 250 kg at low altitude orbits, to about 700 km of land area, may have more than 3000 pieces.
The ambitious project led by the National Commission on Space Activities brings together more than 600 Professional, counting the 250 working in the company VENG SA, main contractor, and two hundreds in numerous research institutes Conicet, as the Center for Optical Research, the Argentine Institute for Radio Astronomy, the Universities of Buenos Aires, National Technological, the Cordoba and Mar del Plata, Aeronautical University Institute, the National Atomic Energy Commission, National Weather Service, Balseiro Institute, Invap, Y-TEC (technology development center YPF) and Chemical Engineering Pilot Plant (Plapiqui). Also participating SMEs are responsible for developing specific parts.
The company VENG SA, Falda del Carmen, Cordoba, is responsible for the design of engines 4000 kg thrust propulsion system and.
The Thunderer weigh about 70.000 kilos, of which 63.000 They correspond to the fuel. The vehicle itself, that measured just over 30 feet high by two feet in diameter, weigh only 7000 kilos.
Background to the Thunderer
The rocket Tronador has as its immediate predecessor the so-called Tronador I which was the first stage of this Project Thunderer, also known governmental and Veng Project. The preliminary version ofTronador I, a small single-stage rocket 3,4 meters long, was successfully launched in 2007; as the subsequent version (called Tronador Ib) of 6 meters long (released in 2008). While this served as a technology tester, to allow progress towards another type of rocket, the Tronador, will be much higher technical and prestacionalmente its predecessor (the Tronador I only reaches 20 km altitude, and can carry a payload brief).
Main objective
The Tronador It is designed specifically to function as a load vector of extreme precision and very low error rate, capable of sending into space segmented structure satellites. This type of satellites, totally innovative and well developed by CONAE, They consist of segmented and small structures, each with its own instruments; each of these “parts” autonomous instruments may have both the ability to go “by assembling” each other in space, or operate in a coordinated manner mode “constellation” or “clusters”, at a precise distance from each other.
Development
The main components of rocket developed in the Teófilo Tabanera Space Center located in Falda del Carmen(Province of Cordoba) a 39 kilometers from the provincial capital, where works CONAE. There as many skilled engineers dedicated to the project is concentrated and where are developing, mainly, the propulsion and avionics components (flight electronics). They are also participating in the project other bodies or actors of the Argentine national scientific and technological system as the Center for Optical Research CONICET (CIOP), Balseiro Institute (belonging to Bariloche Atomic Center) (CAB-CNEA), Aeronautical University Institute of Córdoba (IUA) Trials Group and Applied Mechanics, Faculty of Engineering, National University of La Plata (GEMA), and the Argentine Institute for Radio Astronomy Conicet (IAR) and the National University of Córdoba. Enter 2013 and 2014 have been successfully performed tests VEX 1B to send the Thunderer 2 a satellite mission, scheduled for 2015.
Features
The rocket propellant used as a hydrazine derivative compound, one proven successful liquid fuel in most space projects in other countries. Hydrazine power allows placing a payload (satellite) from among 200 and 400 kg, in orbits between 600 and 700 miles of land area. Further, use liquid combustibel allows great maneuverability and accuracy due to the possibility of turning on and off the engines once started the takeoff (solid fuel, basically used in military projects, do not give the possibility). Precisely design and comprehensive project launcher have been made to international standards and to avoid potential military use; fulfilling the “Regime Missile Technology Control (MCTR)”, international organization which currently chairs the Argentina and prohibits the transfer of missile technology to developing countries.
Prospects
With this development Tronador as space shuttle, Argentina closed the cycle space technology development and will join the club of countries that have their own space vehicles; currently only ten countries have satellite launchers, US addition: Russia, Japan, European Union, China, India, Israel, Iran, North Korea and South Korea. The goal Argentine scientists have proposed is to make a rocket 33 meters long and approximately 64 ton; the same, which is already shaping up as a future first spacecraft South America, will be a vehicle for controlled trajectory which have the corresponding navigation systems, guidance and control, designed and built in the country in order to act reliably, safe, cheap and independent. In the summary of the law on Public Budget 2014 funds allocated to the project are described under the caption: “Construction of Satellite Payload Injector Livianas”. While, the first satellite mission segmented structure could be made during the biennium 2014/15. Physical Alberto Ridner, technology management manager CONAE and in charge of project development satellites segmented structure anticipated that this first test mission could be to the actual launch of "two modules share the information system together, without contact with Earth, which is what is done so far worldwide ".
Test Releases (Serie grows)
The methodology chosen by CONAE for the development of satellite launcher Tronador is doing from a series of experimental vehicles, denominados grows, allowing test various subsystems at reduced cost, before incorporating the end launcher. This experience is gained both subsystems such as during. Even for space agencies and companies with extensive experience in pitching, It is common for new developments vehicle, the first releases are not performed as expected, why are experimental.
VEX1A
The first test of the prototype launcher Satellite Tronador.
VEX1B
The second vector launched.
VEX 5A
Oct 6th, 2015 -Launch in progress.
Location of base final release (photo)
While the above test launches bases were located in Pampa de Achala (Cordoba), Chamical (Rioja) and Punta Piedras (Buenos Aires), the Tronador will be launched from Puerto Belgrano, town of Punta Alta. "Our focus is on polar orbiting satellites and Puerto Belgrano gives us the possibility of releases into the sea with all the open area in polar direction. Furthermore it is within the base of Argentina Navy, away from densely populated areas, making it a safe area to launch ", explains engineer Juan Cruz Gallo, general and technical manager VENG SA, CONAE dependent charge of the project and state enterprise directly.
Tronador I
One Tronador I (T1) vehicle was flown, on the June 6, 2007 from the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base.
Characteristics
Length (mm) 3400
Stages 1
Total takeoff mass (kg) 60
Payload mass (kg) 4
Thrust 500kgf x 10 sec
Tronador Ib
One Tronador Ib (T2) vehicle was flown, on the August 5, 2008 from the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base.
Characteristics
Length (mm) 3400
Stages 1
Total takeoff mass (kg) 60
Payload mass (kg) 4
Apogee (km) 15~20
Thrust: 1500kgf x 10 sec
Tronador II
Characteristics
The projected Tronador II rocket has the following configuration:
Length (mm) 33000
Stages 3
Diameter 2.5m - 1.5m
Empty mass (kg) 8000
Total weight(kg) 64000
Payload mass (kg) 200-400
Apogee (km) 600-700
1st stage thrust: 90t(3x30t)
2nd stage thrust: 30t
3rd stage engine: 4t thrust , 60 seconds burn, 2800kg of fuel