The Shuttle Centaur

[Danderman]

What I don't understand is why this hardware is not used for EELV for LEO payloads. Yeah, I know that there aren't any actual LEO payloads that need it today, but there are plenty of potential payloads, like Orion.

The DIV Heavy upperstage is larger and the current Centaur carries nearly the same amount of propellant.

Do either have 2 engines?

[bobthemonkey]

Dual engine Centaur is a growth option for A-V. It's offered but never been ordered.

[Downix]

Dual engine Centaur is a growth option for A-V. It's offered but never been ordered.

Untrue, there was a single Dual-Engine Centaur order, on an Atlas III launch. It is of the older style, with mechanical vs electronic controls, but the rest of the systems are the same.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Dual engine Centaur is a growth option for A-V. It's offered but never been ordered.

Untrue, there was a single Dual-Engine Centaur order, on an Atlas III launch. It is of the older style, with mechanical vs electronic controls, but the rest of the systems are the same.

More information (and a photo of the DEC) here.

[DaveS]

Sorry for the necromancy, but I just found a bunch of images of the sole Centaur-G on display. Enjoy!

Nice ones, but technically it is the sole G Prime. G was the shorter version. Any other shots? They're kinda repetitive given other photos available on the net. I'm kinda thinking of the right side and some more detailed shots of the CISS hardware.

[jsmjr]

There were retractable umbilicals (Rolling Beam Umbilical System) on the top of the TSM's which mated with panels on the sides of the orbiter, towards the rear of the payload bay.

The LO2/LH2 were to be dumped during aborts thru the side panels.  There was a H2  vent on top of the tail.

That's pretty fascinating.  Any ideas where might one find descriptions / schematics of how this worked?  (For that matter, I've yet to come across a primer on how the standard umbilicals work.)  I gather Challenger was fitted out with the necessary equipment at the time it was lost. Does Atlantis still have any of this hardware aboard or was it swapped out over the years?

EDIT: Some good discussion begins here: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17437.msg632423#msg632423

[DaveS]

There were retractable umbilicals (Rolling Beam Umbilical System) on the top of the TSM's which mated with panels on the sides of the orbiter, towards the rear of the payload bay.

The LO2/LH2 were to be dumped during aborts thru the side panels.  There was a H2  vent on top of the tail.

That's pretty fascinating.  Any ideas where might one find descriptions / schematics of how this worked?  (For that matter, I've yet to come across a primer on how the standard umbilicals work.)  I gather Challenger was fitted out with the necessary equipment at the time it was lost. Does Atlantis still have any of this hardware aboard or was it swapped out over the years?

EDIT: Some good discussion begins here: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17437.msg632423#msg632423

Here you go: A technical document on the RBUS hardware:

[DaveS]

I also got the top level configuration drawings.

No way you could scan those?

They are full size, I only have a 8x 11 scanner.

No way you could scan them in segments and then use a photo-editing program to stitch them back together? If you can scan and post the segments, I can stitch them back together into the full images.

Just to give this one final shot: Any updates on this?

[jscott1]

There were retractable umbilicals (Rolling Beam Umbilical System) on the top of the TSM's which mated with panels on the sides of the orbiter, towards the rear of the payload bay.

The LO2/LH2 were to be dumped during aborts thru the side panels.  There was a H2  vent on top of the tail.

That's pretty fascinating.  Any ideas where might one find descriptions / schematics of how this worked?  (For that matter, I've yet to come across a primer on how the standard umbilicals work.)  I gather Challenger was fitted out with the necessary equipment at the time it was lost. Does Atlantis still have any of this hardware aboard or was it swapped out over the years?

EDIT: Some good discussion begins here: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17437.msg632423#msg632423

Here you go: A technical document on the RBUS hardware:

Thanks for that blast from the past...

I clearly remember when I first came to work at KSC in 1987 seeing the rolling beam umbilical in a scrap heap behind the Headquarters Building.

- Jonathan

[DaveS]

Here's a photo I have gotten a hold of. Can someone ID the boxes that can be seen on the left side of the LO2 tank?

[Fequalsma]

Always amuses me that they have a pump running 24/7 to keep the monocoque tanks pressurized!
F=ma

Sorry for the necromancy, but I just found a bunch of images of the sole Centaur-G on display. Enjoy!

[Jim]

Always amuses me that they have a pump running 24/7 to keep the monocoque tanks pressurized!
F=ma

Actually, they didn't have to.  They could put the tanks in stretch. Which is being done to the vehicle above

[DaveS]

Anyone have any idea what the boxes on the LO2 tank are? They almost look like they're some sort of thermal covers for the LH2 fill/drain pipe.

[DaveS]

Here's another question. Where was the interface between the X_o1307 bulkhead and the in-flight GH2 vent line? Based on schematics found in the Centaur G Prime Technical Description on L2, I would guess somewhere around the top.

I have attached a photo of the X_o1307 bulkhead. Markings where the various interfaces was would be great!

[longdrivechampion102]

Couldn't the Centaur-G, had it not been cancelled, launch the Magellan probe after the Ulysses and Galileo?