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Dolphin

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Dolphin Dolphin launch vehicle test

Status: Retired 1984. First Launch: 1984-08-03. Last Launch: 1984-08-03. Number: 1 . Thrust: 155.00 kN (34,845 lbf). Gross mass: 7,500 kg (16,500 lb). Height: 15.50 m (50.80 ft). Diameter: 1.07 m (3.51 ft). Apogee: 2.00 km (1.20 mi).

The Dolphin featured a hybrid motor using liquid oxygen oxidizer. A sea launch arrangement was used for lift-off - the booster floated in the ocean separately from the launch support ship. The Dolphin was designed to be a commercial sounding rocket and a stepping-stone to a much larger booster for commercial orbital launches called the Constellation. Constellation was to have been a 4-stage vehicle that could deliver a payload of 1450 kg to a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The hybrid rocket engine for the Dolphin was developed and tested under the leadership of Douglas Ordahl in Carson City, Nevada. Ordahl had previously been head of hybrid propulsion at United Technologies' Chemical System Division.

Water launch was selected to reduce cost by eliminating the need for a launch pad, increase payload to low inclination orbits by allowing the tender ship to deposit the rocket for launch near the equator, and to avoid strict government regulation of land-based launch sites. In order to launch the rocket, the Dolphin was first loaded with liquid oxygen, then moved off the boat and floated horizontally in the ocean. A counterweight, attached to the aft end of rocket, was then dropped into the water and this pulled the rocket vertical. The nitrogen tanks were pressurized in the water and the vehicle was ready for launch.

• Dolphin hybrid rocket sea-launch abort. - . Nation: USA. Agency: Starstruck. The Dolphin included not only innovative hybrid propulsion technology but was also launched from a floating launch cannister at sea. This was the first attempted test of the sea-launch system, although the launch itself was aborted..

• Dolphin hybrid rocket sea-launch abort. - . Nation: USA. Agency: Starstruck. This was the second attempted use of the sea-launch system - the launch itself was aborted..

• Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: Starstruck. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).

  The vehicle was supposed to reach an altitude of 2400 m but only made it to 700 m due to a stuck thrust vector control valve that resulted in a 45 degree deviation from vertical fligh. The errant vehicle was shut down by command from the support ship at T+14 sec. After this attempt, the project, backed entirely with private funds, folded.