Orion Test Vehicle Preparation of Orion pulse test vehicle. |
Gross mass: 133 kg (293 lb). Height: 1.20 m (3.90 ft). Diameter: 1.00 m (3.20 ft).
Six charges, each with 1.04 kg of C4 high explosive, were ejected from the rear of the pusher plate and exploded 866 mm behind the plate. An initial charge of 452 kg of gunpowder in a mortar-like launch cylinder got the craft going. The original article was too heavy to accelerate after running out of momentum from the original charge.