Payload fairing is one of the main components of a launch vehicle. The fairing protects the payload during the ascent against the impact of the atmosphere (aerodynamic pressure and aerodynamic heating). More recently, an additional function is to maintain the cleanroom environment for precision instruments.
Outside the atmosphere the fairing is jettisoned, exposing the payload. At this moment mechanical shocks and a spike in acceleration might be observed.
The standard payload fairing is typically a cone-cylinder combination, due to aerodynamic considerations, however specialized fairing are in use as well. The type of fairing which upon jettisoning separates into two halves is called a clamshell fairing by way of analogy to the bifurcating shell of a clam.
In some cases the fairing may enclose both the payload and the upper stage of the rocket [1] .
If the payload is attached both to the booster's core structures and to the fairing, the payload may still be affected by fairing's bending loads, as well as inertia loads due to vibrations caused by gusts and buffeting.[2]
On February 24, 2009, NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite failed to reach orbit after liftoff presumably because the fairing on the Taurus XL launch vehicle failed to separate, causing the vehicle to retain too much mass and subsequently fall back to Earth; it landed in the Indian Ocean near Antarctica.[3][4] The same happened to the Naro-1, South Korea's first carrier rocket, launched on 25 August 2009. During the launch half of the payload's fairing failed to separate, and as a result the rocket was thrown off course. The satellite did not reach a stable orbit.[5]
Manufacturers
-
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
- A Zurich-based Swiss company RUAG Space is the maker of fairings for Ariane, as part of the cooperation within the European space programme.[6]
References
- ^ A Conceptual Design for the Space Launch capability of the peacekeeper ICBM [1]
- ^ Thomas P. Sarafin, Wiley J. (1995) "Spacecraft Structures and Mechanisms--from Concept to Launch", ISBN 0792334760 p. 47
- ^ "Launch Mishap Ends OCO Mission"
- ^ "NASA Satellite Crashes Before Reaching Orbit"
- ^ "S. Korean satellite lost shortly after launch: gov't". Yonhap News. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/techscience/2009/08/26/15/0601000000AEN20090826005500320F.HTML. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
- ^ Brian Harvey, "Europe's Space Programme: To Ariane and Beyond", ISBN 1852337222, p. 150
 |
This spacecraft or satellite related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
