A solid rocket booster (SRB) is a large solid propellant motor used to provide thrust in spacecraft launches from initial launch through the first ascent. Many launch vehicles, including the Atlas V,[1]SLS and space shuttle, have used SRBs to give launch vehicles much of the thrust required to place the vehicle into orbit. The space shuttle used two space shuttle SRBs, which were the largest solid propellant motors ever built and the first designed for recovery and reuse.[2] The propellant for each solid rocket motor on the space shuttle weighed approximately 500,000 kilograms.[3]
Compared to liquid propellant rockets, the solid-propellant motors SRMs have been capable of providing large amounts of thrust with a relatively simple design.[4] They provide greater thrust without significant refrigeration and insulation requirements, and produce large amounts of thrust for their size. Adding detachable SRBs to a vehicle also powered by liquid-propelled rockets known as staging reduces the amount of liquid propellant needed and lowers the launch rig mass. Solid boosters are cheaper to design, test, and produce in the long run compared to the equivalent liquid propellant boosters. Reusability of components across multiple flights, as in the Shuttle assembly, also has decreased hardware costs.[5]
One example of increased performance provided by SRBs is the Ariane 4 rocket. The basic 40 model with no additional boosters was capable[when?] of lifting a 4,795 lb. (2,175 kg.) payload to geostationary transfer orbit.[6] The 44P model with 4 solid boosters has a payload of 7,639 lb. (3,465 kg) to the same orbit.[7]
Disadvantages
Solid propellant boosters are not controllable and must generally burn until exhaustion after ignition, unlike liquid propellant or cold-gas propulsion systems. However, launch abort systems and range safety destruct systems can attempt to cut off propellant flow by using shaped charges.[8] As of 1986[update] estimates for SRB failure rates have ranged from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 100,000.[9] SRB assemblies have failed suddenly and catastrophically. Nozzle blocking or deformation can lead to overpressure or a reduction in thrust, while defects in the booster's casing or stage couplings can cause the assembly to break apart by increasing aerodynamic stresses. Additional failure modes include bore choking and combustion instability.[10] Failure of an O-ring seal on the Challenger space shuttle's right solid rocket booster led to its disintegration shortly after liftoff.
Solid rocket motors can present a handling risk on the ground, as a fully fueled booster carries a risk of accidental ignition. Such an accident occurred in the August 2003 Brazilian rocket explosion at the Brazilian Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara VLS rocket launch pad, killing 21 technicians.[11]
^"What are the types of rocket propulsion?". www.qrg.northwestern.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
^Hoover, Kurt. "Doomed from the Beginning:The Solid Rocket Boosters for the Space Shuttle". Texas Space Grant Consortium. University of Texas.
^, Astronautix, archived from the original on 2012-07-16.
^, Astronautix, archived from the original on 2011-05-13.
^Tasker, Douglas G. (1986-08-01). . Archived from the original on 2016-02-13. Retrieved 2016-02-08. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^WINES, MICHAEL (1986-03-05). "NASA Estimate of Rocket Risk Disputed". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
^. ti.arc.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-08-14. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
NASA CGI video developed for the Ares program showing recovery of solid rocket booster
March 23, 2023
solid, rocket, booster, solid, rocket, booster, large, solid, propellant, motor, used, provide, thrust, spacecraft, launches, from, initial, launch, through, first, ascent, many, launch, vehicles, including, atlas, space, shuttle, have, used, srbs, give, launc. A solid rocket booster SRB is a large solid propellant motor used to provide thrust in spacecraft launches from initial launch through the first ascent Many launch vehicles including the Atlas V 1 SLS and space shuttle have used SRBs to give launch vehicles much of the thrust required to place the vehicle into orbit The space shuttle used two space shuttle SRBs which were the largest solid propellant motors ever built and the first designed for recovery and reuse 2 The propellant for each solid rocket motor on the space shuttle weighed approximately 500 000 kilograms 3 Artemis 1 s solid rocket boosters Contents 1 Advantages 2 Disadvantages 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksAdvantages EditCompared to liquid propellant rockets the solid propellant motors SRMs have been capable of providing large amounts of thrust with a relatively simple design 4 They provide greater thrust without significant refrigeration and insulation requirements and produce large amounts of thrust for their size Adding detachable SRBs to a vehicle also powered by liquid propelled rockets known as staging reduces the amount of liquid propellant needed and lowers the launch rig mass Solid boosters are cheaper to design test and produce in the long run compared to the equivalent liquid propellant boosters Reusability of components across multiple flights as in the Shuttle assembly also has decreased hardware costs 5 One example of increased performance provided by SRBs is the Ariane 4 rocket The basic 40 model with no additional boosters was capable when of lifting a 4 795 lb 2 175 kg payload to geostationary transfer orbit 6 The 44P model with 4 solid boosters has a payload of 7 639 lb 3 465 kg to the same orbit 7 Disadvantages EditSolid propellant boosters are not controllable and must generally burn until exhaustion after ignition unlike liquid propellant or cold gas propulsion systems However launch abort systems and range safety destruct systems can attempt to cut off propellant flow by using shaped charges 8 As of 1986 update estimates for SRB failure rates have ranged from 1 in 1 000 to 1 in 100 000 9 SRB assemblies have failed suddenly and catastrophically Nozzle blocking or deformation can lead to overpressure or a reduction in thrust while defects in the booster s casing or stage couplings can cause the assembly to break apart by increasing aerodynamic stresses Additional failure modes include bore choking and combustion instability 10 Failure of an O ring seal on the Challenger space shuttle s right solid rocket booster led to its disintegration shortly after liftoff Solid rocket motors can present a handling risk on the ground as a fully fueled booster carries a risk of accidental ignition Such an accident occurred in the August 2003 Brazilian rocket explosion at the Brazilian Centro de Lancamento de Alcantara VLS rocket launch pad killing 21 technicians 11 See also EditLiquid rocket booster Solid fuel rocket Graphite epoxy motor Comparison of orbital rocket engines Space shuttle solid rocket boosterReferences Edit This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Assets PDF Lockheed Martin archived from the original PDF on December 17 2011 HSF The Shuttle spaceflight nasa gov Archived from the original on 1999 04 21 Retrieved 2016 02 08 Solid rocket boosters USA NASA 2009 08 09 What are the types of rocket propulsion www qrg northwestern edu Retrieved 2016 02 08 Hoover Kurt Doomed from the Beginning The Solid Rocket Boosters for the Space Shuttle Texas Space Grant Consortium University of Texas Ariane 4 Astronautix archived from the original on 2012 07 16 Ariane 44P Astronautix archived from the original on 2011 05 13 Tasker Douglas G 1986 08 01 Shock Initiation Studies of the NASA Solid Rocket Booster Abort System Archived from the original on 2016 02 13 Retrieved 2016 02 08 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help WINES MICHAEL 1986 03 05 NASA Estimate of Rocket Risk Disputed Los Angeles Times ISSN 0458 3035 Retrieved 2016 02 08 Solid Rocket Motor Failure Prediction Introduction ti arc nasa gov Archived from the original on 2016 08 14 Retrieved 2016 02 08 VLS Archived 2005 08 12 at the Wayback MachineExternal links EditHowStuffWorks Sold Fuel Rocket Engines NASA website about the solid rocket booster U S Centennial of Flight Commission article on solid propelled rockets NASA CGI video developed for the Ares program showing recovery of solid rocket booster Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Solid rocket booster amp oldid 1107560874, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
