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Author
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Topic: Robotic Probe Primary Thruster?
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LT Scott Schneeweis
unregistered
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posted 02-11-2006 02:41 AM
 
Seeking some assistance identifying this recently aquired artifact....it is a derivative of the Rocketdyne 2101 series hypergolic pressure-fed engine. The 2101 series has a heritage supporting the Viking and Mariner (Mars) probes, however this varient has some small but significant differences which lead me to beleive it may be affiliated with Mariner 10 (Venus/Mercury Fly by mission)...the underside of the gimble assembly is gold plated - can be seen in one of the below photos (the Mariner 10 positioned the thrust chamber in the direction of Sol for the duration of the transit to protect the experimentation payload from heat)...the nozzle appears to be made of a different Niobian alloy composition then the standard RS-2101a and RS-2101c ...I would welcome input from anybody who has documentation (particularly images) of the propulsion systems associated with any of the 60's/70's robotic missions or who may have specific knowledge about this engine in particular. There are extensive stamps/marks which I can provide off line if beneficial.
Higher Res image of above - http://www.spaceaholic.com/rs2101_casefull_big.jpg
Higher Res image of above - http://www.spaceaholic.com/rs2101_dismounted_big.jpg 
Higher Res image of above - http://www.spaceaholic.com/rs2101_casetop_big.jpg 
Higher Res image of above - http://www.spaceaholic.com/rs2101_nozzle_big.jpg ------------------
Scott Schneeweis
URL http://www.SPACEAHOLIC.com/ [This message has been edited by LT Scott Schneeweis (edited February 11, 2006).] |
spaceuk
Member Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 02-11-2006 12:07 PM
Nice acquisition Scott  Have you tried lookup at NSDCC or on a NASA Mariner-10 press kit ? Have you tried JPL at Pasadena? They may be able help. Also,NASM can be quite helpful at times. Don't know if they have any Mariner-10 items? Wish you luck. Let us know how you go on. I'll have a look later see if anything relevant I may have
Phill
spaceuk
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LT Scott Schneeweis
unregistered
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posted 02-11-2006 01:52 PM
JPL and potentially a call to Rocketdyne were on the radar if everything else fails (Rocketdyne, subsequent to their take-over by Pratt-Whitney/UTC from Boeing is now really tough to reach - they have buttoned down on public info)...another possibility is that this may be from Pioneer Venus..though the orbit insertion motor was a solid rocket booster, attitude control and I beleive orbital adjustment were via liquid Hydrozine (at one point the R4D was considered - the Apollo RCS engines)....in any case here is the tag data if it helps...as it turns out there is a JPL reference code on the Thrust Chamber Assembly which I think definatively links the engine to a Robotic Probe mission of some type:PN RS0000601-001-02
SERNO 0011
MPC NO. 4899104
JPL PN. 10040532-1
JPL REF DESIGNATION
2010A 90 "F" CHG
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Scott Schneeweis
URL http://www.SPACEAHOLIC.com/ [This message has been edited by LT Scott Schneeweis (edited February 11, 2006).] |
joe bruce
Member Posts: 129
From: Spokane, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted 02-11-2006 08:29 PM
Scott,
I don't know how you do it; but you always seem to come up with some beautiful pieces. |
LT Scott Schneeweis
unregistered
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posted 02-11-2006 11:06 PM
Its just the preverbial "low hanging fruit" Joe...everything aquired was scrapped by the respective companies/organizations which produced the artifacts....see this months Air/Space Magazine which discusses one of a number of surplus shops around the U.S. that offer opportunities for collectors to rescue material... |
spaceuk
Member Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 02-12-2006 05:31 AM
Another good sourec would be TRW Space Log magazines. Always carried good material.You could probably write TRW see if they have info.
Phill
spaceuk
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LT Scott Schneeweis
unregistered
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posted 02-12-2006 11:10 PM
Mystery solved by somebody close to the program..ID'd as a Viking Orbiter Orbit Insertion engine (RS-2101C) flight spare...------------------
Scott Schneeweis
URL http://www.SPACEAHOLIC.com/ |
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