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VSB-30

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Status: Active. First Launch: 2004-10-23. Last Launch: 2018-05-31. Number: 24 . Payload: 407 kg (897 lb). Thrust: 102.00 kN (22,930 lbf). Gross mass: 2,657 kg (5,857 lb). Height: 12.80 m (41.90 ft). Diameter: 0.58 m (1.89 ft). Apogee: 260 km (160 mi).

In 1996, DLR proposed to Centro Tecnico Aerospacial (CTA) the adaptation of its Mini-TEXUS payload to the first stage of SONDA III, which had its first flight in 1976. This new single stage vehicle was known as VS-30. In 2001, the Unified Microgravity Program for Sounding Rockets proposed to CTA the development of a boosted version of the VS-30. The challenge was accepted and the development of the S31 booster motor started. The qualification of the motor consisted of three static firings. The maiden flight was from Alcantara in 2004 in Alcantara. The first operational flight from Kiruna was in 2005.

Payload: 407 kg (897 lb) to a 260 km altitude.

• Cajuana test - . Nation: Brazil. Agency: AEB. Apogee: 240 km (140 mi).

  Unguided test launch. During the 45 seconds total burn time of both motors the vehicle was accelerated to a final velocity of 1676 m/s. The payload segment with an approximate weight of 400 kg was carried to an apogee height of almost 240 km, which was reached 252 seconds after lift-off. At T+650 seconds the payload landed 190 km northeast of the launch site in the ocean, only 700 meters from the nominal impact point.

• TEXUS EML-1/TEXUS 42 Microgravity mission - . Nation: Sweden. Agency: DLR, SSC. Apogee: 263 km (163 mi).

  This was the first launch of the Brazilian sounding rocket VSB-30, replacing the British Skylark, from Esrange. The speed when leaving the launcher was about 60 m/s and after 45 seconds of acceleration the max speed was over 200 m/s. During the flight the experiments onboard spent approximately 6 minutes of microgravity and all experiments worked successfully. The payload was brought back for analysis at Esrange by helicopter within one hour after landing.

• TEXUS 43 Microgravity mission - . Nation: Sweden. Agency: DLR, SSC. Apogee: 237 km (147 mi). The TEXUS 43 mission gave around six minutes of microgravity to the 407 kg payload contributed by five investigators from three different institutes.

• Cuma II Microgravity mission - . Nation: Brazil. Agency: AEB. Apogee: 242 km (150 mi).

• DLR TEXUS 44 (EML-2) - . Nation: Sweden. Apogee: 264 km (164 mi).

• DLR TEXUS 45 - . Nation: Sweden. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

• MASER 11 - . Nation: Sweden. Agency: SSC. Apogee: 252 km (156 mi).

• TEXUS 46 - . Nation: Sweden. European and Japanese microgravity experiments.

• TEXUS 47 - . Nation: Sweden. Microgravity experiments.

• MICROG 1A - . Nation: Brazil. Apogee: 242 km (150 mi). Microgravity payload..

• TEXUS 49 - . Nation: Sweden. Apogee: 268 km (166 mi). Microgravity experiments..

• TEXUS 48 - . Nation: Germany. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi). DLR/Astrium microgravity payload..

• MASER 12 - . Nation: Sweden. Apogee: 260 km (160 mi). Microgravity payload..

• TEXUS 50 - . Nation: Sweden. Apogee: 261 km (162 mi). Microgravity mission.

• Cryofenix - . Nation: Sweden. Apogee: 265 km (164 mi). Technology payload..

• TEXUS 51 - . Nation: Sweden. Apogee: 261 km (162 mi). Microgravity payload..

• TEXUS 52 - . Nation: Sweden. Apogee: 255 km (158 mi). Microgravity payload..

• MASER 13 - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi). Microgravity mission. Impacted in ESRANGE B Zone, Sweden..

• TEXUS 53 - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 252 km (156 mi). Microgravity mission. Impacted in ESRANGE Zone B..

• MAIUS-1 - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 238 km (147 mi). Physics mission. Impacted in ESRANGE..

• MAPHEUS 6 - . Apogee: 254 km (157 mi). Microgravity mission. Impacted ESRANGE B zone..

• HiFire-4 - . Nation: Australia. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Hypersonic mission. Impacted Woomera Range..

• TEXUS 54 - . Apogee: 261 km (162 mi). Microgravity mission. Impacted Esrange B zone..

• TEXUS 55 - . Apogee: 255 km (158 mi). Microgravity mission. Impacted Esrange B zone..