Mike.McManus@FtCollins.NCR.com (Mike McManus) (10/08/90)
In article <1990Sep29.233359.6067@zoo.toronto.edu> henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes: > In article <1990Sep28.151756.3973@infonode.ingr.com> drudetb@infonode.UUCP (Ted B. Drude) writes: > >In fact, it was the use of hydrogen fuel that made it possible for the > >Atlas to have such high payload weights for its day (late 50's-early 60's). > > Sorry again. Hydrogen had nothing to do with it. Hydrogen engines were not > sufficiently well developed to be used for Atlas; NASA had considerable > trouble getting them ready in time for Centaur and Saturn. Atlas's high > payload mass with a 1.5-stage launcher was due mostly to the use of > "balloon tanks", relying on tank pressurization for most of the structural > strength of the rocket. Exploiting the extra strength of pressurized > tanks was not novel, but relying on it to the extent that the rocket > would collapse unless pressurized was. If I recall correctly, several years ago (8-10?), there was an Atlas on display at the USAF Museum in Dayton that had a pressurization system that was used to maintain it's "posture". At some point, the system failed, and the whole thing collapsed like a paper cup. I can remember seeing the picture on the front page of the Dayton Daily News, and having seen the rocket at the museum before the mishap. -- Disclaimer: All spelling and/or grammar in this document are guaranteed to be correct; any exseptions is the is wurk uv intter-net deemuns,. Mike McManus Mike.McManus@FtCollins.NCR.COM, or NCR Microelectronics ncr-mpd!mikemc@ncr-sd.sandiego.ncr.com, or 2001 Danfield Ct. uunet!ncrlnk!ncr-mpd!garage!mikemc Ft. Collins, Colorado (303) 223-5100 Ext. 378
serre@boulder.Colorado.EDU (SERRE GLENN) (10/09/90)
I heard a story once that an Atlas at VAFB had depressurized inadvertently with a satellite on top, resulting in a partial collapse of the rocket. Can anyone out there substantiate or disprove this story? --Glenn Serre serre@tramp.colorado.edu
gregc@cimage.com (Greg Cronau/10000) (10/10/90)
In article <27755@boulder.Colorado.EDU> serre@tramp.Colorado.EDU (SERRE GLENN) writes: >I heard a story once that an Atlas at VAFB had depressurized inadvertently >with a satellite on top, resulting in a partial collapse of the rocket. >Can anyone out there substantiate or disprove this story? > >--Glenn Serre >serre@tramp.colorado.edu The only incident I can remember was about 10 years ago. The Atlas that was on display at Wright Pattereson AFB lost pressure and crumpled. Don't know about any on the pad. gregc@cimage.com
marcus@illusion.uucp (Marcus Hall) (10/12/90)
In article <MIKE.MCMANUS.90Oct8080436@mustang.FtCollins.NCR.com> Mike.McManus@FtCollins.NCR.com (Mike McManus) writes: >If I recall correctly, several years ago (8-10?), there was an Atlas on display >at the USAF Museum in Dayton that had a pressurization system that was used to >maintain it's "posture". At some point, the system failed, and the whole thing >collapsed like a paper cup. I can remember seeing the picture on the front >page of the Dayton Daily News, and having seen the rocket at the museum before >the mishap. Several years ago I was at the Space and Rocket Center in Alabama. There is an old Atlas there, laying out by the Saturn V, mounted in it's trailer/trans- porter/whatever. The first day, I noticed that part of the upper tankage was dented in. At the time, I was thinking that it was a shame that most of the rocket was in such good shape except for this (major) flaw. (The dent was several feet long, about 9 inches across, and max about 3-4 inches deep.) On the next day, I saw some technicians out re-pressurizing the tank (with nitrogen I believe) and the "dent" popped back out. It was no longer noticable. I hope that this doesn't happen too often since I would guess that the thin aluminum will eventually tear, but this was a very good illustration of just how thin the skin really is. Marcus Hall
henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) (10/12/90)
In article <1990Oct11.204633.2565@illusion.uucp> marcus@illusion.UUCP (Marcus Hall) writes: >...an old Atlas there... >On the next day, I saw some technicians out re-pressurizing the tank (with >nitrogen I believe) and the "dent" popped back out... >...I hope that this doesn't happen too often since I would guess >that the thin aluminum will eventually tear, but this was a very good >illustration of just how thin the skin really is. Actually, it's stainless steel, not aluminum. About the thickness of a dime. With pressure inside it, it is *really tough* -- a heavy sledgehammer just bounces off. -- "...the i860 is a wonderful source | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology of thesis topics." --Preston Briggs | henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry