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The
Scorpius rocket family is a new generation
of expendable launch vehicles intended to reduce the cost of launch to orbit by
a factor of 5 to 10. The Scorpius program is a total "clean-sheet" development
using new technologies for pressure-fed, LOX/Jet-A propellants, all new low cost
ablative engines, and GPS/INS guidance/control. Funding for the ongoing Scorpius
program has been provided primarily by the Air Force, Ballistic Missile Defense
Organization (BMDO), NASA, and Microcosm internal R&D.
Scorpius
SR-M: Sounding
rocket
Configuration: 38.4 ft. long,
42 in. diameter , 4 rear fins, gross weight 13,700 lb.
Engine: Single Microcosm Scorpius 20,000 lbf. (vacuum) thrust engine, ablatively-cooled.
Pressure-fed using High Performance Pressurization System (HPPS). Propellants:
Kerosene (Jet-A)/LOX in all-composite tanks with 42 in. diameter.
Variant SR-M2 with Sprite upper stage for tests.
Scorpius Sprite: Mini-Lift Launch
Vehicle
SR-M with upper stage and six 45-inch
diameter pods around a central core. Uses much of the suborbital technology and
approach. Performance: 810 lbs. to Low Earth Orbit.
Configuration: 54,2 ft. long, booster pods & core sustainer pod with 45
in. diameter, 6 rear fins. Overall diameter 11.2 ft. Dry weight: 12,300
lb. Wet weight: 83,000 lb.
Engines: Six 20K lb engines, one 20K lb engine, one 2.3K lb engine.
Single Microcosm Scorpius 20K lb (vacuum) thrust engine, ablatively-cooled.
Pressure-fed using High Performance Pressurization System (HPPS). Propellants:
Kerosene (Jet-A)/LOX in all-composite tanks with 42 in. diameter.
Variant SR-2 without Sprite upper stage.
Microcosm successfully completed the first test flight of the Scorpius™ SR-XM-1
dual engine suborbital rocket at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico on
March 9, 2001. The SR-XM-1 flight used the ultra-low-cost Scorpius 5,000 lb. thrust
engines, avionics, and composite fuel tank. The vehicle is the first of a new
liquid booster family and is the successor of the smaller SR-S launched in January,
1999.
The next steps in the Scorpius program will be the continued development and testing
of low-cost Scorpius components and the launch of the SR-XM-2 Vehicle that
will use the larger 20,000 lb. thrust engine currently in development. This new
engine is a derivative of the flight-proven engines. Engine testing will be done
at the Energetic Materials Research Test Center (EMRTC) Rocket Test Site in Socorro,
NM. Development of the SR-XM and larger vehicles is underway at the Microcosm
facilities in El Segundo, CA.
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Test flight SR-XM-1 in 2001
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