I've stumbled across this picture at paronamio taken by somebody at Huntsville. Can anyone tell me what I'm look at http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2690512
Quote from: Hoonte on 12/10/2008 06:27 pmI've stumbled across this picture at paronamio taken by somebody at Huntsville. Can anyone tell me what I'm look at http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2690512A mockup of the Shuttle Centaur G' w/ASE
Why the two engines? If it starts out in LEO already, does it really need high thrust?
Quote from: ugordan on 12/11/2008 10:32 amWhy the two engines? If it starts out in LEO already, does it really need high thrust?It was derived from the Atlas Centaur stage, which needed two engines to reduce gravity losses during its first burn. I think NASA may have been contemplating a single-engine version to be developed later. - Ed Kyle
Quote from: edkyle99 on 12/11/2008 06:44 pmQuote from: ugordan on 12/11/2008 10:32 amWhy the two engines? If it starts out in LEO already, does it really need high thrust?It was derived from the Atlas Centaur stage, which needed two engines to reduce gravity losses during its first burn. I think NASA may have been contemplating a single-engine version to be developed later. - Ed KyleThe aft end was the same as the Atlas Centaur version to save money
I am curious as to how the Centaur keeps its shape over so manyyears...........I was lucky to see a Centaur G in Plant 19 in San Diegoin 1999.
Quote from: Art LeBrun on 12/11/2008 06:37 amI am curious as to how the Centaur keeps its shape over so manyyears...........I was lucky to see a Centaur G in Plant 19 in San Diegoin 1999.I believe they keep it pressurized. You can occasionally hear a pump cycling when you walk by.
Whatever it is, it is, like most of the other space hardware at Huntsville, rapidly decaying.