Maxus is a sounding rocket that are used in the MAXUS microgravity rocket programme, a joint venture between Swedish Space Corporation and EADS Astrium Space Transportation used by ESA.[1] It is launched from Esrange Space Center in Sweden and provides access to microgravity for up to 14 minutes.[2]
Technical characteristics
edit- Overall length: 15.5 m
- Overall mass: 12 400 kg
- Payload mass: approx. 800 kg
- Max. velocity: 3500 m/s
- Max. acceleration: 15 g
- Propellant mass: 10 042 kg
- Motor burn time: 63 s
- Microgravity: up to 14 minutes
- Apogee: > 700 km
- Thrust(max. in vacuum): 500 kN
Missions
edit| Mission | Date | Launch site | Motor | Apogee | Payload | Modules | Comments | Reference Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxus 1 | 1991 May 8 | Esrange | Castor 4B | 154 km | ||||
| Maxus 1B | 1992 Nov 8 | Esrange | Castor 4B | 717 km | Successful | |||
| Maxus 2 | 1995 Nov 29 | Esrange | Castor 4B | 706 km | Successful | |||
| Maxus 3 | 1998 Nov 24 | Esrange | Castor 4B | 713 km | 798 kg | 5/ESA | Successful | Esrange EUP105-99006 |
| Maxus 4 | 2001 Apr 29 | Esrange | Castor 4B | 704 km | 803 kg | 5/ESA | Mostly successful; parachute failed | Esrange EUP110-E15 |
| Maxus 5 | 2003 Apr 1 | Esrange | Castor 4B | 703 km | 795 kg | 5/ESA | Mostly successful; rough landing | Esrange EUP114-E114 |
| Maxus 6 | 2004 Nov 22 | Esrange | Castor 4B | 707 km | 793 kg | 5/ESA | Successful | Esrange EUP117-E146 |
| Maxus 7 | 2006 May 2 | Esrange | Castor 4B | 705 km | 785 kg | 5/ESA | Successful | Esrange EUP124-E36 |
| Maxus 8 | 2010 March 26 | Esrange | Castor 4B | 703 km | 803 kg | 3/Astrium ST 1/SSC | Successful | |
| Maxus 9 | 2017 April 7 | Esrange | Castor 4B | 849 kg | Successful | [3] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Shutte, Andreas; Grothe, Dieter (2 June 2005). "Sounding Rocket Program: Minitexus, Texus, Maxus". 17th ESA Symposium on European Rocket and Balloon Programmes and Related Research. 590: 481. Bibcode:2005ESASP.590..481S. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ "Maxus". Astronautix.com. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ "Maxus-9". Swedish Space Corporation. January 20, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
