VS-50

VS-50 (suborbital rocket VS-50) is a joint development of sounding rocket from the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE) and German Aerospace Center (DLR).^[1]

VS-50

Function	Sounding rocket Test of the VLM-1 subsystems
Manufacturer	IAE DLR
Country of origin	Brazil, Germany
Size
Height	12 m (39 ft)
Diameter	1.46 m (4 ft 9 in)
Mass	15 t
Stages	2
Associated rockets
Derivative work	VLM
Launch history
Status	In development
Launch sites	Alcântara Launch Center
First flight	2024 (planned)
First stage – S50
Second stage – S44

Characteristics

It is a suborbital vehicle that uses solid propellant, having two stages: the first uses the S50 engine (made of composite material^[2]) and the second uses the S44 engine. It is 12 m long, 1.46 m in diameter, and has a mass of approximately 15 tons, and can carry up to 500 kg of payload.^[1][3]

Brazil (IAE) is responsible for developing the S50 and S44 engines, the backup navigation system, the launch and flight safety infrastructure, and project documentation management. The development and qualification of the other systems are the responsibility of Germany (DLR).^[1][3]

Goals

The rocket will be used primarily to develop, manufacture and flight qualify the S50 engine, as well as components to be used in the VLM-1 rocket. It will also be used in microgravity testing and hypersonic experiments (such as the German SHEFEX project).^[1][3]

Development

• On December 22, 2016, a contract was signed between IAE and AVIBRAS for the production of eight S50 engines and their accessories. Engines 1 and 2 will be used for engineering tests (structural and burst tests). Engines 3 and 4 will be used for burn tests on a ground test bench. Engines 5 and 6 for validation during flights of the VS-50 rockets, and engines 7 and 8 will be used in the VLM-1 rocket.^[4][5]
• On November 15 and 16, 2018, at Avibras' facilities, acceptance and envelope burst tests were performed on the S50 engine, with the results being in compliance with the design requirements.^[6][2]
• On November 5, 2019, the test firing of the first prototype of the S-50 engine ignitor took place.^[7]
• On July 13, 2021, the second phase of Operation Santa Maria was completed, which integrated an inert S-50 engine and loaded it onto the launching table of the Mobile Integration Tower [pt] (TMI).^[8]

Test of the S50 engine.

• On October 1, 2021, a static burn test of the S50 engine was conducted on a test stand. The test lasted about 84 seconds and burned 12 tons of fuel. The objective was to test the engine's endurance and performance, and it was considered a success.^[9][10]
• On December 2, 2023, AEB's president announced that a first flight of the rocket is planned for 2024.^[11]

See also

• Sonda (rocket)
• Brazilian space program
• National Institute for Space Research

References

1. "Revisão preliminar do projeto (PDR) VS-50". Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
2. "Realizações Técnicas". Relatório de atividades 2018 (PDF). São José dos Campos: Linceu Editorial. 2019. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
3. "VS-50". Agência Espacial Brasileira (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2018-04-22. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
4. "Contrato garante produção de oito motores S50". Agência Espacial Brasileira (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
5. "Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço (IAE), assinou contrato para produção de oito motores S50". Defesa Aérea & Naval (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2016-12-27. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
6. "INSTITUTO DE AERONÁUTICA E ESPAÇO (IAE) E AVIBRAS REALIZAM IMPORTANTES ENSAIOS DO PROJETO VLM-1". Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2018-11-23. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
7. "IAE realiza 1° ensaio de queima do ignitor S50". Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
8. "Realizada a segunda fase da Operação Santa Maria". Agência Espacial Brasileira (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-08-11.
9. Nelson Düring (2021-10-02). "Exclusivo - DefesaNet resgistra Ensaio Motor S50". DefesaNet (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-03.
10. Coordenação de Comunicação Social - CCS (2021-10-03). "Teste do motor S50 foi um sucesso". Agência Espacial Brasileira (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-03.
11. Andrade, Gabriel (2023-12-02). "Foguete brasileiro deve ser lançado em 2024, diz presidente da Agência Espacial Brasileira". Giz Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-07.