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  Russian launch vehicles: "Hot" stage separation

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Author Topic:   Russian launch vehicles: "Hot" stage separation
Kocmoc
Member

Posts: 33
From: Washington, DC USA
Registered: May 2005

posted 05-28-2013 03:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kocmoc   Click Here to Email Kocmoc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Could one of you aerospace engineers or physicists please explain to me the virtues of the "hot stage" technique that the Russians use on their liquid fuel rockets?

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Cathleen S. Lewis

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 05-28-2013 03:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'll let someone else chime in with more details but quoting from the "Handbook of Space Technology" (2009, John Wiley & Sons) edited by Wilfried Ley, Klaus Wittmann and Willi Hallmann:
A technical specialty is the "hot" stage separation. Differing from most other launchers, the stages are separated while in the thrust decay phase of the first stage, with the second-stage engine already running. Using this principle an additional pre-acceleration system is not needed for orienting the upper stage propellants at the tank outlet prior to engine ignition.
The U.S. Titan II, as was used to launch Gemini manned spacecraft, also employed hot stage separation.

Jim Behling
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Posts: 1463
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010

posted 05-28-2013 05:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jim Behling   Click Here to Email Jim Behling     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Also known as "fire in the hole" staging.

Acceleration isn't always required by the upper stage. Delta and Falcon use springs to push the upper stage away from the booster. The upper stage ignites after a short coast. Atlas employs retrorockets to pull the booster away. The upper stage thrusters are used to provide the little acceleration at engine start.

All times are CT (US)

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