National Aeronautics and 4

Space Administration
Washington. DC 20546 -

AC 202 755-8370

For Release Sunday,

January 11, 1976

Press Kit Project Helios-B

RELEASE NO: 75-317

Contents

GENERAL RELEASE ................. .1 ........... 7-8

MISSION OBJECTIVES ......... a.... . ...... . 6

HELIOS FACT SHEET ......... , .............................. 7-8

HELIOS-B SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS SUMMARY ........... 9-10

LAUNCH FACILITIES ..................... .. ... .... 11

HARDIWARE ASSEMBLY .................... ........ i1-12

COMPLEX MODIFICATIONS .......................... . . 12

TC-5 HISTORY ............................. 12-13 0

TITAN/CENTAUR/HELIOS-B SEQUENCE OF EVENTS ......... 14-15

16-18
HELIOS PROGRAM/PROJECT MANAGEMENT.................

CONTRACTORS .................................... 18

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>~~~~~~~~~~~-
 National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Washington. D.C. 20546
|* AC 202 755-8370

Release:
IV ,For
Nicholas Panagakos
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Sunday,
(Phone: 202/755-3680) January 11, 1976

Joe McRoberts
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
(Phone: 301/982-4955)

RELEASE NO: 75-317

SECOND SOLAR PROBE READY FOR LAUNCH

The second of two spacecraft designed to fly closer

to the Sun than any previous man-made object will be launched

by NASA next month for West Germany.

Helios B will be launched from Kennedy Space Center,

Fla., aboard a Titan Centaur rocket about Jan. 15. A one-

hour launch window begins at 12:30 a.m. EST.

The spacecraft will be placed into a highly elliptical

orbit around the Sun at distances ranging from 149,599,000

kilometers (89,700,000 miles) to 43,400,000 km (26,900,000

mi.). It will reach the closest point every 93 days.

-more-

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 -2-

Named after the Sun god of ancient Greece, Helios was

built by West Germany as part of a joint venture with the

United States. Three of the 10 experiments on board are

American. The United States also supplies the launch vehicle,

tracking and data acquisition and technical support.

Helios B will fly nearly 3 million km (2 million mi.)

closer to the Sun than its predecessor, Helios 1, which was

launched a year ago. And it will experience about 10 per

cent more heat than Helios 1, whose parts already have shown
they can take temperatures of 370 degrees Centigrade (700

degrees Fahrenheit) -- the melting point of lead -- and

continue to function well.

Instruments aboard the spacecraft will measure the

solar wind (ionized particles given off by the Sun), magnetic

fields, solar and galactic cosmic rays, electromagnetic

waves, micrometeoroids and the zodiacal light (a diffuse

glow seen in the east and west before sunrise and after
sunset).

Information returned by Helios B is expected to shed

more light on the unexpected micrometeorite results observed

on Helios 1.

-fotore-
 -3-

Dr. James Trainor of NASA's Goddard Space Flight

Center, Greenbelt, Md., the U.S. project scientist explains:

"Helios 1 detected about 15 times more micrometeorites

close to the Sun 53 million km (33 million mi.) than observed
near the Earth. They come from sharply defined but matny
different directions at different times.

"We don't know whether they are transported by the

Sun's corona after being pulled into the Sun from elsewhere
in space -- which would have an important impact on solar

energy transport theory -- or whether they may be following

the path of starlight directly in towards the Sun."

Trainor points out that Einstein's theory of relativity

predicts that the immense gravitational attraction of the

Sun bends light beams from distant stars in toward the Sun
as the light passes by.

Instrumentation similar to that carried on Helios is

carried on two Interplanetary Explorers or IMPs (Explorers

47 and 50) in Earth orbit; the Pioneer spacecraft orbiting

the Sun at about one Astronomical Unit,* and on Pioneers 10
and 11 in the outer reaches of the solar system.

*One A.U.=149,599,000 km (89,700,000 mi.)

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 -4-
Data received by these spacecraft, which measure solar

phenomena from various points in the solar system over d long

period of time and under varying conditions, will be cor-

related with that received by the two Helios probes.

Germany's Bundesministerium fur Forschung und Technologie

(BMFT) (Federal Ministry for Research and Technology) has

overall management responsibility and the Deutsche Forschungs-

und Versuchsanstalt fur Luft und Raunmfahrt (DFVLR) (German

Aerospace Research and Experimental Establishment) serves as

project manager.

The Goddard Center has overall project responsibility

for U.S. participation, and NASA's Lewis Research Center,

Cleveland, Ohio, manages the Titan Centaur/TE-364-4 rocket.

Telemetry data acquisition and tracking will be provided

by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., which
manages the Deep Space Network. Spacecraft control will, be

conducted by a German team at the German Space Operation

Center (GSOC) near Munich, West Germany. Initial maneuvers

will be monitored by a German team at JPL.

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 including spacecraft
Cost of the two Helios missions,
million. The German share
and launch vehicle, is about $260
spacecraft costs, which
is about $180 million. BMFT pays all
a prototype and
include the price of the two flight units,
Germany provides
thermal, structural and engineering models.
acquisition costs
seven experiments, plus command and aata

for the German ground stations.

and their
The U.S. pays for the two launch vehicles
services, the three
support, tracking and data acquisition
for a total of about $80
U.S. experiments and other support

million.

is Messerschmitt-
Prime contractor for the spacecraft

Bolkow-Blohm GmbH, Munich. The Martin Marietta Corp.,

under contract
Denver, Colo., builds the Titan III booster
System Organization
to the U.S. Air Force Space and Missiles
The
(SAMSO), acting as the procurement agency for LeRC.

Centaur upper stage is produced by General Dynamics/Convair

McDonnell Douglas Corp.
and the TE-364-4 stage is provided by

(END OF GENERAL RELEASE. BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOLLOWS.)

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 -6-

MISSION OBJECTIVES

The main scientific objectives of the Helios mission

are:
e To study the spatial gradient of the interplanetary
medium by measuring the magnetic field, the density,
temperatures, velocity and direction of the solar
wind, i.e., electrons, protons and alpha particles.
* To study discontinuities and shocks in the inter-
planetary medium magnetically, electrically and by
observing the behavior of the solar wind particles.
* To study radio waves and in situ the electron plasma
oscillations believed responsible for certain radio
bursts (Type III) and other wave-particle interactions.
* To study the propagation of solar cosmic rays and
to a certain degree their spectral composition.
* To measure the spatial gradient of galactic cosmic
rays, to separate the solar and galactic components
of the low energy cosmic ray flux especially with
respect to protons and electrons.
* To study the spatial gradient and dynamics of the
interplanetary dust and the chemical composition
of dust grains by observing the zodiacal light and
by counting and analyzing individual dust particles.
* To x-ray monitor the solar disk by means of a
Geiger-Muller counter. This device will enable
the experiments to monitor the far side of the Sun
from orbit regions far from the Earth.
* To test the theory of general relativity with
respect to both orbital and signal propagation
effects:
-- Determination of the dynamical oblateness
of the Sun
-- Determination of the quadrupole mass
distribution of the Sun
-- Improvement of the ephemerides of the inner
planets and the Moon

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 -7-

HELIOS FACT SHEET

Spacecraft
Weight 376 kilograms (826 pounds)
including 10 scientific experi-
ments weighing a total of 72 kg
(158 lb.).

Structure Spool-shaped with an experiment

compartment or central core 1.75
meters (5.7 feet) in diameter,
cylindrical in shape (16 sides)
and two conical solar arrays
attached to both ends giving it
a spoo shape.
Height with antenna mast, 4.20 m
(13.7 ft.). Without antenna mast,
2.12 m (7.0 ft.). Diameter at
widest point (solar arrays) 2.77 m
(9.1 ft.). With deployable booms
extended, 32 m (105.0 ft.) tip
to tip.

Power Solar cells located on solar

arrays mounted above and below
the spacecraft central body.
Second surface mirrors are
interspersed among solar cells
to radiate excess heat. Cells
supply minimum of 240 watts at
aphelion (farthest from Sun)
and considerably more at peri-
helion. Silver-zinc batteries
provide power during initial
phase of mission.

Telemetry and Command The telemetry subsystem processes

the scientific and engineering
data for transmission. It is
the connecting link between the
various data sources and the
communications subsystem. Data
from the 10 scientific experi-
ments and spacecraft housekeeping
are merged and formatted in the
data encoder for direct trans-
mission to Earth.

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 II:5
The data handling equipment
consists of a command decoder,
data storage with a 500-kilobit
core memory, an encoder and a
telemetry control unit. The
spacecraft is controlled by
ground command.
Tracking and Data The DSN unified S-band system
Acquisition will be used for telecommunica-
tions utilizing the 26 m (85 ft.)
antenna and the 64-m (210-ft.)
antennas. Essentially continuous
coverage will be provided during
the primary mission (first 120
days). Mission control will be
from the German Space Operation
Center (GSOC) near Munich. The
German Control Center (GCC) will
interface with NASA's NASCOM
facility in Madrid. The 100-m
(325-ft.) antenna at Effelsberg,
Germany, will be used as required,
but only for telemetry reception.
Orbit Elliptical, from one AU to 0.29
AU. 186-day period.

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 LAUNCH FACILITIES

from
Helios B will be launched aboard Titan Centaur-5 Test
Air Force Eastern
Complex 41 of the Titan III Complext the John F.
Range. Launch will be under the direction of Directorate.
Kennedy Space Center's Unmanned Launch Operations
islands in
The Titan III Complex -- built on manmade
the Banana River -- consists of: solid rocket motor ser-
Building
vicing and storage areas; a Vertical Integration Launch Com-
(VIB); a Solid Motor Assembly Building (SMAB); system
plexes 40 and 41; and a double-track locomotive vehicle
which transports the mated Titan core and Centaur41. The
from the VIB through the SMAB to Launch 20Complex
miles to link
rail system covers a distance of about
the various facilities of the complex.

HARDWARE ASSEMBLY

shroud
The Titan, Centaur and Centaur portion of the
VIB on a mobile transporter/
are erected and mated in the are
umbilical mast structure. Attached to the transporter equipment
three vans housing launch control and monitoring
through-
which remain connected to the transporter and vehicle of inte-
out the receipt-to-launch sequence. Upon completion
Centaur are
grated tests in the VIB, the assembled Titan and the solid rocket
moved on the transporter to the SMAB. After mated, the
motors and liquid-fueled stages are structurally service
vehicle is moved to Launch Complex 41. A mobilestages. An
structure provides access to all mated vehicle
protection
environmental enclosure or "white room" provides
for the Centaur and the spacecraft.
checkout,
The spacecraft prelaunch operations include of the
fueling and encapsulation in the payload section
with
shroud and mating of the encapsulated spacecraft and encap-
Centaur at Complex 41. Spacecraft are assembled
Facility
sulated at the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation
(SAEF) at KSC.
The VIB is a 23-story structure enclosing 9 million
feet from
cubic feet of space. The VIB, located 20,000 control and
Complex 41, has two major functions: launch
core vehicle assembly and systems checkout.

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 1-1-1
-12-

The VIB has four individual bays or cells in which

four Titan rockets can be assembled and all systems checked
out before the rocket is moved on to the SMAB for mating of
the solid rocket motors. The VIB launch control area --
consisting of three rooms -- is the nerve center of the
Titan III Complex.

COMPLEX MODIFICATIONS
The Titan III Complex was modified to support assembly,
checkout and launch of the Titan Centaur. Complex 41 is
under operational assignment to KSC and necessary modifica-
tions were funded by NASA.

The Titan Centaur rocket substitutes the high-energy,

hydrogen-fueled Centaur upper stage for the transtage flown
on Air Force versions of the Titan III.

Most of the launch complex modifications were required

to service the hydrogen-fueled Centaur. Modifications in-
cluded the laying of concrete foundations for cryogenic
handling and storage areas and modifications to work plat-
forms in Cell 1 of the VIB. Also included was the recon-
figuring of the "white room" of the Mobile Service Tower to
accommodate the Helios and Viking spacecraft and a larger
payload shroud. The new shroud covers both Centaur and its
payload.
The first NASA mission launched from Complex 41 was
the Titan Centaur-l test flight on Feb. 11, 1974. Complex
41 was also used for the Helios 1 launch of Dec. 10, 1974,
and the twin Viking launches on Aug. 20 and Sept. 9. This
will be the fifth NASA mission from Complex 41.

TC-5 HISTORY
The Titan first and second stages were erected on their
transporter Sept. 11-12 and the Centaur upper stage was mated
with them Sept. 17. TC-5 was moved in to the SMAB Oct. 31
where the twin solid boosters were mated with the core vehicle
in early November. The combined launch vehicle was moved the
2.8 miles from the SMAB to Complex 41 Nov. 4.

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 -13-

The Helios B spacecraft arrived at KSC Oct. 7 ard

received a preliminary checkout in Hangar AO at Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station. It was moved to-Sracecraft
Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-i (SAEF-1i) in the KSC
Industrial Area Nov. 26 for further checkout and flight
preparation. It was mated with its Delta third stage
(TE-364-4) rocket motor Dec. 8 and encapsulated in the
Centaur Standard Shroud Dec. 9.
The encapsulated spacecraft was scheduled to be
moved from SAEF-1 to the pad for erection and mating with
TC-5 early in January1 1976.

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 1 - j- _ _ _ _ _ _ --

-14-

TITAN/CENTAUR/HELIOS B SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

Event Time

Separate Forward Bearing

Reactors T + 100 Sec 1 min. 40 sec.

Stage I Ignition 112 1 min. 52 sec.

SRM Jettison 124 2 min. 4 sec.

Stage I Cutoff 262 4 min. 22 sec.

Stage I Jettison 262 4 min. 22 sec.

Stage II Ignition 262 4 min. 22 sec.

Centaur Shroud Jettison 322 5 min. 22 sec.

Stage II Cutoff 468 7 min. 48 sec.

Stage II Jettison 474 7 min. 54 sec.

Centaur MES-1 484 8 min. 4 sec.

Centaur MECO-1 582 9 min. 42 sec.

Centaur MES-2 1,890 31 min. 30 sec.

Centaur MECO-2 2,185 36 min. 25 sec.

TE-364 Spinup (MECO-2+70) 2,255 37 min. 35 sec.

TE-364 Separation (MECO-2+72) 2,257 37 min. 37 sec.

Centaur Retro (MECO-2+72) 2,257 37 min. 37 sec..

TE-364 Ignition (MECO-2+114) 2,299 38 min. 19 sec.

TE-364 Burnout 2,342 39 min, 2 sec.

Spacecraft Separation 2,415 40 min. 15 sec.

[ (MECO-2+230)

2 TE-364 YO Deploy (MECO-2 2,441 40 min. 41 sec.

+256)

\ Switch to Hi-Gain Antenna 4,185 69 min. 45 sec.

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-. g'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I___
 Event Time

Verify R Vector Align

(MECO-2+2160) 4,345 hr. 12 min. 25 sec.

Centaur MES-3 (MECO-2 21,085 5 hr. 51 min. 25 sec.

+18,900)

Centaur MECO-3 (MES-3+11) 21,096 5 hr. 51 min. 36 sec.

Centaur MES-4 (MECO-3+1800) 22,896 6 hr. 21 min. 36 sec.

Centaur MECO-4 (MES-4+14) 22,910 6 hr. 21 min. 50 sec.

Centaur MES-5 (MECO-4+1200) 24,110 6 hr. 41 min. 50 sec.

Centaur MECO-5 (MES-5+6) 24,116 6 hr. 41 min. 56 sec.

Centaur MES-6 (MECO-5+300) 24,416 6 hr. 46 min. 56 sec.

Centaur MECO-6 (MES-6+7) 24,423 6 hr. 37 min. 3 sec.

Centaur MES-7 (MECO-6+7200) 31,623 8 hr. 47 min. 3 sec.

Centaur MECO-7 (MES-7+7) 31,630 8 hr. 47 min. 10 sec.

Mission Complete 32,235 8 hr. 57 min. 15 sec.

NOTE: Event times are nominal and apply to the Dec. 8, 1975,
launch opportunity at window opening. Event times will
vary according to launch date and time.

*lore-
 IIlk

-16-

HELIOS PROGRAM/PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Federal Republic of Germany

Karl Kasmeier Program Manager,

Bundesministerium fur
Forschung und Technologie
(BMFT)

Dr. Wolfgang Finke Director of Space and

Transportation, BMFT

Herman Strub Deputy Director for Space,

BMFT

Manfred Otterbein Program Scientist, BMFT

Ants Kutzer Project Manager, Bereich

fur Projekttraegerschaften
(BPT) fur Weltraumforschung

Friedrich Unz Deputy Project Manager, BPT

Dr. Herbert Prosche Project Scientist,

Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur
Weltraumforschung (AFW)

NASA Headquarters

Dr. Noel W. Hinners Associate Administrator

for Space Science

Dr. Anthony Calio Deputy Associate Administrator

for Space Science

Dr. S. Ichtiaque Rasool Deputy Associate Adn-Inistrator

for Space Science (Science)

Robert Kraemaer Director, Planetary and

Lunar Programs

Fred D. Kochendorfer NASA Program Manager

Dr. Albert Opp NASA Program Scientist

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WAO gal,
 -17-

John F. Yardley Associate Admbinistrator

for Space Flight

Joseph B. Mahon Director, Expendable

Launch Vehicles

F. Robert Schmidt Acting Manager, Titan Centaur

Gerald M. Truszynski Associate Administrator

for Tracking and Data
Acquisition

Maurice E. Binkley OTDA Support Manager

Goddard Space Flight Center

Dr. John F. Clark Director

Dr. Robert S. Cooper Deputy Director

Joseph Purcell Director of Engineering

Gilbert W. Ousley Project Manager, Inter-

national Projects Office

Charles B. White Assistant Project Manager

William R. Witt, Ji. Assistant Project Manager

Dr. James H. Traiitor Project Scientist

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Dr. Bruce C. Murrav Director

Kurt Heftman JPL Project Support Manager

Al. Beers Mission Operations Support

Manager

Dr. Nicholas A. Renzetti Tracking and Data Systems

Manager

Paul S. Goodwin Deep Space Network Manager

Willis Meeks Deep Space Network Manager

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2Iit ts:<xt * L ' - 2

 ______ 1 -f 1 - 1 , - 1

-18-

Kennedy Space Center

Lee R. Scherer Director

George F. Page Director, Unmanned Launch

Operations

John J. Neilon Helios Launch Director

D. C. Sheppard Chief, Spacecraft

Operations

Floyd Curington Spacecraft Coordinatoi

John D. Gossett Chief, Centaur Operations

Division

Creighton A. Terhune Test Engineering Chief

CONTRACTORS

Spacecraft

Mzsserschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Prime contractor for

GmbH, Munich Helios

Launch Vehicle

Martin Marietta Prime contractor for

Denver, Colo. Titan

General Dynamics/Convair Centaur

McDonnell Douglas TE-364-4

December 24, 1975

Ascot
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National Aeronautics and

Space Administration
Washington, D U 20546
AC 202 755-8370

For Release
Nicholas Panagakos
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. IMMEDIATE
(Phone: 202/755-3680)

RELEASE NO: 76-2

NOTE TO EDITORS:

LAUNCH VEHICLE FACT SHEET FOR HELIOS-B

The attached Launch Vehicle Fact Sheet contains

updated information relating to the launch of Helios-B

about Jan. 15, and may be used in conjunction with the

press kit released earlier.

 - -; -
, . 4 "ow -
54 .-

LAUNCII VEHIC:LE FACT SHEET

..

FOR HEIlOS-B

a Titan 1IIE
The Titan Centaur launch vehicle combines
It has an overall
booster and Centaur D-lT third stage. weight
I
total liftoff
height-; of 48.8 meters (160 feet) and a
For the Helios
. t of 64,000 kilograms (1.4 million pounds).
solid rocket motor kick
x issior a fourth stage, the Delta
' - stage will be employed.
Standard
A new type of shroud, called the Centaur and its
stage vehicle
5x:~ud (CSS) covers the entire third
pa Broad. m (14
It measures 17.6 m (58 ft.) lonq and is 4.3nearly
a spacecraft
ft.) in diameter, and will accommodate
8.5 m (28 ft.) in length.

Titan I]L
liquid
The Titan IIIE hcoster consists of a two-stagc motors,
strap-on solid rocket
propellant core vehicle and two
and 25.9 m (85 ft.) long. The
each 3 m (10 ft.) in diamter each, provide
two scluds, which are made up of five segments at liftoff.
(2.4 million lb.)
a thrust of 10.7 million newtons
stages are primarily
The 3-m (10-ft.) diameter core
alloys. They are made with aluminum
constructed of alLaminum
integrally milled.
skins with T-shaped aluminu,,i stringers
stage is 22X2 m (72.9 ft.) and the
The length of the first
second stage 7.1 m (23.3 ft.).

.\ heat shield assemb]y protects the

Stage I engine
generated by the solid rocket
from the highl temperaturesencloses a major portion of the
'motors. The heat shield
on -ino fronm the thrust chamber throats uoward.
of hydrazine
The two core stages burn a 50-50 blend
fuel and nitrogen
an] unsyrumntrical dimeth-lhydrazine (UDMH)
tetiroxidc. The first stage uses an Acrojet YLR87-AJ-ll
It can burn
engine with two gimballing thrust chambers.
2,313,000 N
for approximately 148 seconds and provides
Aerojet YLR91-AJ-ll
(520,000 lb.) thrust. The second scage
provides A49,270 N
enjine has a sinqle thrust chamber and Both the first
(111,000 lb.) thrust for about 208 seconds. cooled and
anI second stage engines are regeneratively
turlopump fed.
the
Cnntrol fcor Stage I is achieved hy; qimballing and yaw
The gimballed main engine provides pitch
eniines. pro-
co -rol for Stage II with the qa; generator exhaust
visiing roll control.
-in ro-
Of'
z is -In
 -2-

Guidance commands come from the Centaur system

stability is controlled by the Titan flight control while
system,
The two five-segment solid strap-on motors use
powdered aluminum fuel and ammonium perchlorate oxidizer
in a plastic binder. Both burn for approximately 122
The two solid motors are generally referred to as Stageseconds.
Each carries a tank for nitrogen tetroxide mounted "O."
on the
side of the motor for thrust vector control. The nitrogen
tetroxide :LS injected through the nozzle to deflect the
thrust for flight control. motor

Centaur D-lT

The Centaur vehicle is 9.1 m (30 ft.) long and 3

(10 ft.) in diameter. The tank structure is made from m
sure stabilized stainless steel .36 millimeters (0.014 pres-
thick in the cylindrical sections. This is approximatelyinches)
thickness of a dime. Pressure stabilized means that the
strength of the vehicle structure depends on pressure the
the tanks. When the vehicle is not pressurized it mustinside
kept in a special cradle which keeps it stretched to be
its shape. retain

A double-walled vacuum-insulated bulkhead separates

the liquid oxygen section from the liquid hydrogen tank.
The forward equipment module attaches to the tank by
conical stub adapter. The stub adapter is also used a short
as an
attach point for a truss type adapter for payload- weighing
more than 1,814 kg (4,000 lb.). Spacecraft smaller than that
are supported by a payload adapter mounted on the forward
of the equipment module. end

The entire cylindrical portion of the D-1T vehicle

covered with a new permanent radiation shield consisting is
three separate layers of an aluminized mylar, dacron of
sandwich. The forward tank bulkhead and tank access net
are insulated with a number of layers of aluminized doors
The aft bulkhead is covered with a dacron-reinforced mylar.
alumi-
nized mylar membrane and protected further with a rigid
radiation shield supported on brackets. The radiation
shield is made of laminated nylon fabric with aluminized
mylar on the inside and white polyvinyl fluoride on
its
outer surface, and is necessary to limit the loss of
pro-
pellants resulting from solar heating during long duration
missioins.

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 i I, I

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This permanent insulation system will allow the Centaur

stage to coast up to five and a quarter hours in space and
restart its engines. This added capability for coast is
necessary for synchronous orbit missions.

Additional hydrogen peroxide for attitude control and

P propellant settling as well as additional helium for tank
pressurization have also been added to the D-lT vehicle to
allow for extendead missions.
A
Primary propulsion for the Centaur is its two RL-1OA-
3-3 engines which provide 66,72C N (15,000 lb.) thrust each.

During coast, separation and retromaneuvers, attitude

control and propellant settling are provided by 12 small
hydrogen peroxide thrusters rated at 26.7 N (6 lb.) thrust.

The Centaur D-lT astrionics system consists primarily

of a Teledyne digital computer unit, and a Honeywell inertial
reference unit. The 27.2-kg (60-lb.) digital computer has a
16,000 word random access memory. The intertial reference
unit contains a four-gimbal, all-attitude stable platform.
Three gyros stabilize this platform on which are mounted
three pulse-rebalanced accelerometers.

The Centaur astrionics system handles navigation,

guidance tasks, propellant and tank pressure management,
telemetry formats and transmission and initiates vehicle
events. The system also performs a major role in checking
itself and other vehicle systems prior to launch. One of
its major advantages is the increased flexibility the new
astrionics system offers over the original Centaur system.
In the past, hardware frequently had to be modified for
each mission. Now most operational needs can be met by
changing the computer software.
The Titan III vehicle previously used a radio guidance
system. Modifications to mate it with Centaur were designed
to retain as much Titan autopilot and programming sequence J
capability as possible. To keep modifications to the Titan
and connections between stages as simple as possible, the
Centaur guidance system feeds signals to the Titan flight
computer and lets it send the proper commands to Titan
systems.

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 .llTl
-4

I'I
--
Delt-a Stage
The Delta stage (alternately referred to as fourth]
stage or TE-M-364-4 stage) major assemblies consist of a
spin table, TE-M-364-4 solid propellant rocket motor, bat-
teries, telemetry and tracking systems and a payload attach
fitting. The spin table's lower (non.-rotating) conical
',I- adapter is attached to a cylindrical adapter on the Centaur.
1'. The spin table assembly includes a four-segment petal adap--
t-er mounted on a bearing attached to the non-rotating conical
adapte±'. During spinup, the eight spin rockets which are
V mounted on the spin table are ignited, two redundant motor
separation clamp explosive bolt assemblies are initiated,
and centrifugal force swings the adapter segments back on
their hinges to free the Delta stage, the payload attach
fitting and the Helios spacecraft.
The TE-M-364--4 rocket motor provides an average thrust
of 66,275 N (14,900 lb.) over its action time of about 44
seconds.
The base of the attach fitting is attached to the
forward support ring of the TE-M-364-4 motor. The Helios
spacecraft is fastened to the attach fitting by means of
a V band clamp. Four separatior springs are utilized, each
exerting a force of approximately 58.5 kg (130 lb.) on the
spacecraft in the mated configuration.

Centaur Standard Shroud

'M
-rre
The Centaur sctandard Shroud provides a large payload Is7
space on the Titan Centaur. In most configurations a pay-
load nearly 8.5 m (28 ft.' long can be accommodated. Inside
clearance of the shroud is 3.8 m (12 1/2 ft.). A manufac-
turing joint is provided which allows for future shroud

The nose cap is made from corrosion-resistant steel

:
attached to two conical sections of magnesium. The cylin-
drical sections are made of c~orrugated aluminum. A seal
and insulation allows a clean and thermally controlled
environment in the payload area.
The two halves of the Centaur Standard Shroud join
along a longitudinal split line. Approximately 60 seconds
after Titan Stage II ignition, the longitudinal and hori-
zontal split lines are severed by a noncontaminating pyro-
technic system. Four compressed springs force the two
halves to separate. The cone shaped bottom section of the
 1.1

shroud is bolted to the interstage adapter and is

jettisoned later with the Titan stage.
;-5-
That portion of the Centaur Standard Shroud which
surrounds the Centaur vehicle contains 8.3 cm (3.3 in.)
thick fibreglass insulation. This section reduces heat
transfer to the Centaur liquid hydrogen and oxygen propel'
lant on the launch pad and during ascent through the
atmosphere.

The Countdown
The launch countdown will be conducted by a team of
about 150 people including representatives from N'ASA's
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.;. Lewis Research Center, Cleveland,
Ohio; Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.; and
General Dynamics/Convair, Pratt & Whitney, Martin Marietta
&
Corp., the United Technology Center, Lockheed Missiles RCA
Space Co., McDonnell Douglas, Aerojet Propulsion Co.,
and Pan American World Airways. Representatives of theAero-
Air Force Space and Missile Systems Office and 6555th
space Test Group are ac'.ing in a consultant role to NASA
for the Titan booster.
Launch readiness activities will include:

F-8 days Start readiness count, install CSS

separation Pyrotechnics.

F-7 days Install Solid Motor and Titan Core

ordnance and Centaur flight ordnance.

F-6 days Solid rocket motor and Titan integrity

inspections. Titan and Centaur system
preparations started.

F-5 days Fuel is loaded for Titan first and

second stages.

F-4 days Oxidizer is loaded for Titan first and

second stages and solid rocket motor
tanks. Centaur batteries are installed.

F-3 days Install and connect core vehicle ordnance.

Centaur peroxide tanks all loaded.
Centaur ordnance is connected.

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*,7- 7777 K . ---.-- ,' - 'T".

 -6-

F-2 days Final spacecraft checks are performed.

Range safety system checks are conducted,
Titan Centaur destructors are installed.

'iF-1 day Titan propellant tanks are pressurized.

F-0 (launch) day Final launch count which includes

r i *loading of cryogenic propellants.

'd Launch Windows

the
Three factors must be considered in establishing
launch windows for the Helios mission... relationship between
the Earth and Sun, tracking constraints and launch azimuth
constraints dictated by safety considerations.

Helios could be launched virtually any deay of the year.

The window extends approximately an hour based on safety and
Earth-Sun relationship but may be limited to 45 minutes due
to tracking considerations.
are
The times for the earliest possible launch dates
listed below.

Launch Date Time (EST)

January 15 00:34 a.m.

January 16 00:32 a.m.

January 17 00:29 a.m.

January 18 00:26 a.m.

January 19 00:24 a.m.

January 20 00:21 a.m.

January 20 00:19 a.m.

January 22 00:16 a.m.

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 I. . ....... -7

-7-

TITAN CENTAUR FLIGHT SEQUENCE

Titan Phase

Liftoff occurs approximately two tenths of a second

after ignition of the solid rocket motors. At 6.5 seconds
roll maneuver
into the flight, Titan begins a programmed
commanded by Centaur guidance. The roll maneuver and all
por-
attitude control during the solid rocket motor powered vec-
Titan thrust
tion of the flight is accomplished by the into the
tor system injecting liquid nitrogen tetroxide
exhaust gases.
solid motor nozzles deflecting the rocket

Stage i ignition of the Titan occurs when acceleraticn

from the large solid motors reduces to 1.5 g. Approximately
Stage I
12 seconds later, the solids are jettisoned. Titan
continues thrusting until propellant depletion at approxi-
mately T plus 260 seconds.

Titan Stage II ignition occurs at Stage I propellant

depletion, and separation takes place approximately one
of the
second later. During Stage I and Stage II phases
in pitch and yaw is controlled
flight, the vehicle attitude
by the Titan flight control system. with guidance steering
corrections supplied by the Centaur guidance system.

The Centaur standard shrou& is jettisoned by command

seconds
from the Centaur guidance system approximately 60
after Stage II ignition.

Titan Stage II boosts the vehicle until loss of accel-

467 seconds
eration due to propellant depletion, approximately
commands separa-
after liftoff. The Centaur guidance system
to about .012 g. The
tion when Stage II acceleration decays and
by a shaped charg6
Centaur interstage adapter is severed
II slow the spent stage.
retrorockets on the Titan Stage

Centaur Phase

Centaur first main engine start occurs approximately

Cen-
10 and a half seconds after Titan Centaur separation.
is commanded by the guidance sys-
taur main engine shutdown
tem when the proper parking orbit is achieved.
during
Continuous propellant settling will be maintained
the parking orbit coast phase. During most of the coast phase
the vehicle is aligned along the inertial velocity vector.

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, ."..,. "
 ~-8-

realigned to pitch
Prior to second burn the vehicle is
attitude of approximately four degrees.
seconds,
The second Centaur burn, of approximately 295
system.
is terminated by the Centaur guidance

-
i ' ~Delta Phase
TEM364The fourth stage consists of a Delta stage using the
spacecraft.
TE-M-364-4 solid rocket motor and the lHelios
computer unit 70 seconds
Upon command of the Centaur digital (MECO-2) the Delta stage
after Centaur main engine shutdown
is spun up to approximately 100 rpm. Two seconds later the
the Centaur
N fourth stage is separated from the Centaur and
is backed away from the fourth stage. All subsequent fourth
timer and pyro-
stage events are initiated by the Delta stage
by the Centaur
technic ignition delay train which is started
two seconds prior to separation. Ignition of the fourth
and burns for
stage motor occurs 42 seconds after separation
Separation of the Hlelios space-
approximately 44 seconoj.
takes place about 72
craft from the spent fourth stage motor
seconds after completion of its burn.

Centaur Post Helios Experiments

will
Approximately 1,814 kg (4,000 lb.) of propellant
at the time of fourth stage
remain in the Centaur vehicle
separation. Following separation a helium blowdown will be
stage.
used to back the Centaur away from the fourth
after
A short third burn will occur 5 and 1 5 minutes
long.
MECO-2. The burn will be unguided and 11 seconds
follow
Approximately 30 minutes of zero-g coast will
will be used
third burn. A roll maneuver of 135 degrees roll
thermal
for thermal control during this coast. The 45
or about
maneuver will start 21 minutes after MECO-3,
in the first zero-g
minutes after the final roll maneuver precision point-
coast. During the third coast, a two-minute
ing maneuver will also be performed.

To initiate the fourth burn, the propellant settling

engine
impulse will be reduced below nominal and a settling L02 and
Before engine start, the
failure will be simulated.
chilldown
Lu12 tank pressures will be below nominal and the
The actual burn will last from 11
period will be reduced. total
when the vehicle
to 20 seconds and will be terminated mass
level. The vehicle
mass decreases to a pre-calculated A
is determined by measuring vehicle axial acceleration.
termination will be a timed cut-
backup for the fourth burn to son0 kcs
off. Usable propellants at MECO-a should be 855
(1,900 to 2,000 lb.). Z.LkJe -

IF. . .,-,

I "'7
U, -9-

The fourth coast will be a 2

0-minute zero-g coast.
The fifth Centaur burn will be
with the fourth burn, the propellant for six seconds. As
be reduced. Tdnk pressurization will settling impulse will
both prechill and chilldown be be'ow nominal and
times will be reduced.
The fifth coast (five
minutes) will have
propellant; settling period a continuous
using two S engines.
pump deadhead experiment will A boost
- ,period. also be performed during this

The sixth burn will

be terminated by vehicle
determined by vehicle mass as
acceleration. This cutoff will ter-
minate the sixth burn after 6-15
also be preceded by reduced seconds. The burn will
impulse propellant settling,
lower tank pressures and a shorter
chilldown period.
The sixth coast will be a two-hour
might be shortened to one hour, zero-g coast that
depending on 1120 2 consump-
tion. Three 1 3 5-degree thermal
. trolled propellant tank ventings rolls and two CCVAPS con-
will be performed during
the coast.

The seventh (final) Centaur burn

will be
seconds. in previous burns, the propellant for seven
be reduced,As lower tank pressures will be settling will
prechill and chilldown used and a shorter
period will be scheduled.
The final coast will
last approximately
During this period, an io
H2 02 depletion experiment minutes.
performed Eollowed by will be
a sequential venting
tanks. of LM 2 and L02

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 -II-
LAUNCH VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS
Liftoff weight, including
spacecraft
LifCoEf height
Launch complex
Launch azimuth
Titan Booster
622,036 kg
Weight
1,371,354 lb.
29.8 m (98 ft.)
Height
Powdered aluminum and
Propellants
ammonium perchlorate in
solid motors; Aerozene
50 and nitrogen tetroxide
in Stage I and II.
Two sclid motors provide
Propulsion
5.3 million newtons (1.2
million lb.) thrust each.
LR87AJ-ll, Stage I engine,
2.3 million N (520,000
lb.) thrust. LR9lAJ-ll,
Stage II engine, 445,000
N (100,000 lb.) thrust.
4,917 km/hr (3,055 mph)
Velocity
at Stage I ignition,
14,632 km/hr (9,092 mph)
at Stage II ignition,
23,7Ev km/hr (14,779 mph)
at Stage II Separation.
Centaur inertial guidance
Guidance
A~O'jJ10"
A OJanuary
-4 __
63,973. kilograms
6391,94 pkouds
1,410,894 pounds
48.8 meters
160 feet
41
98-108 degrees (launch time
and date variable)
Centaur Stage
20,895 kg (46,066 lb.)
(including shroud)
9.6 m (31.5 ft.)
(including truss payload
adapter but without
shroud and interstage
adapter)
Liquid hydrogen and
liquid oxygen
Two 66,720-N (15,000 lb.)
thrust RL-10 engines.
Twelve small hydrogen
peroxide thrusters.
26,585 km/hr (16,519 mph)
at MECO-1, 39,224 km/hr
(24,372 mph) at MECO-2,
49,180 km/hr (30,558 mph)
at spacecraft separation.
Inertial guidance
5, 3976