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Topic: Able IV: World's first space engine (1959)
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Able IV
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posted 02-10-2010 02:54 PM
   
April 14, 2010, I'm updating my original post to reflect what I have learned to date. Special thanks to all those that have provided information and or encouragement.Able IV
World’s First Space Engine - 1959 The ill-starred Atlas-Able space program was central to America’s response to the Russian Sputnik that initiated the great “Space Race” beginning in the late 1950’s. Although these particular missions were ultimately unsuccessful (thanks to balky boosters), they included, at the time, the most technically advanced satellites ever made. A successful lunar flight required a means of “steering” the satellites en route to their planned destination. To that end, in 1959 two identical Able IV space engines were designed and built under contract with NASA by the Space Technologies Laboratories (STL) of TRW. Able IV was the world’s first liquid propellant spacecraft engine designed for use in space that was actually flown. This impressive machine was 54” long by 21” diameter. The monopropellant hydrazine (N2H4) fueled Able IV engine was capable of multiple restarts allowing midcourse velocity correction and retro propulsion to adjust the spacecraft’s trajectory en route to its destination. Hydrazine fuel had the advantage that it did not require an igniter or an oxidizer. A catalyst will break down hydrazine into ammonia, nitrogen, and hydrogen in an exothermic process well suited to rocket propulsion. However, hydrazine decomposition requires preheating the catalyst above 500 degrees F. STL utilized a technique called "bipropellant slug start" in its Able4/Able 5 engine. This approximately one half second hypergolic reaction generated enough heat to activate the catalyst for the hydrazine engine. This design allowed up to 6 restarts of the engine in space. Rocket thrust chambers were mounted on opposing ends of the spin axis. The injection rocket for entering lunar orbit could fire twice. The vernier rocket could be fired four times for mid course propulsion and maneuvers. The space engine included a large central hydrazine tank and two smaller nitrogen tanks. The STL Able IV/V space engine was mounted inside a 39” sphere (Pioneer P-x) which also contained the mission scientific and communication instruments and power supplies. The space engine’s thrust exhaust and antennas extended from either end of the satellite sphere. Mounted on this sphere, four solar panels were designed to extend in a paddle wheel configuration to charge the satellite’s batteries. The first of the two Able IV engines was launched on the Pioneer P-3 lunar mission on November 26, 1959. Unfortunately, the payload shroud broke away only 45 seconds from launch causing the satellite to crash into the Atlantic Ocean. The other Able IV engine never got a chance to fly as its launch vehicle was destroyed September 24, 1959, in a pre-launch test firing without the payload and space engine in place (Pioneer P-1). The remaining Atlas-Able launch vehicles were already committed to other planned space missions. Therefore, the remaining twin Able IV space engine was never launched. In 1960, STL built two more hydrazine monopropellant space engines of the same design and designated Able V-A and Able V-B. These engines were launched September 25, 1960 (Pioneer P-30) and December 15, 1960 (Pioneer P-31). Unfortunately, both launches failed shortly after lift off. However, on the 17 minute Pioneer P-30 mission, the Able V-A engine got to see action. Despite a subpar second stage burn which prevented the Pioneer from reaching escape velocity, ground controllers were still able to fire the Able V-A engine. Therefore, STL’s Able IV/V space engine design “was the first to successfully ignite and operate in space.” Descendants of the Able IV engine are still in use today. Thanks in part to the pioneering efforts of STL, hydrazine engines can be found maneuvering the International Space Station, the Space Shuttle, communication satellites, and more. TRW presented the remaining Able IV space engine to a retiring VP in 1970. contact: enichena@aol.com |
Jay Gallentine
Member Posts: 287
From: Shorewood, MN, USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 02-14-2010 07:16 PM
You might want to check in with Gideon Marcus. He's written extensively on the early STL probes.Also, if you look up Bruce Moomaw, he'll probably know something as well. |
Able IV
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posted 02-15-2010 10:28 AM
Jay, Thanks for your tips. I have been in contact with Gideon, and he has been most helpful. Also, others have sent some very useful articles and photos as well. We are building a nice composit history for the Able IV space engine. I'll try to contact Bruce as well. |
Able IV
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posted 02-21-2010 01:24 PM
I am expanding my research to include all four of the STL Able IV/V space engine launches. In particular, I am seeking 1959/60 articles from "Aviation Week And Space Technology" that would be relevant to the launches described below:History of STL Able IV/V Space Engine Launches | Date | Vehicle | Payload | | 9/24/1959 | Atlas-C Able | Pioneer P-1/Able IV | | Payload and space engine not present when pre-launch test exploded | | 11/26/1959 | Atlas-D Able | Pioneer P-3/Able IV | | Payload shroud broke away 45 sec after launch. First launch of spacecraft engine designed for use in space. | | 9/25/1960 | Atlas-D Able | Pioneer P-30/Able V-A | | Second stage failure. Mission lasted 17 minutes. First time that an onboard engine was fired on a space vehicle. | | 12/15/1960 | Atlas-D Able | Pioneer P-31/Able V-B | | Exploded 68 seconds after launch. |
All launches from Cape Canaveral |
Apollo-Soyuz
Member Posts: 1205
From: Shady Side, Md
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 02-21-2010 01:32 PM
I believe the prelaunch test was on 9-24-59 not 1960. |
Able IV
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posted 02-21-2010 02:01 PM
You are correct. Thanks for catching my error. I have corrected the fist date to be 9-24-1959. Do you have any specific reference material on this P-1 mission? |
art540
Member Posts: 432
From: Orange, California USA
Registered: Sep 2006
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posted 02-21-2010 06:17 PM
Ironically Astronautix reports an Atlas-Able destroyed on Feb. 15, 1960 in the same manner as Sept. 24, 1959. I have a copy of the Convair report on the 9-24-59 incident but I don't believe there is anything on the spacecraft. |
Proponent
Member Posts: 59
From: London
Registered: Oct 2008
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posted 02-21-2010 10:58 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Able IV:
I suspect this reference is either Space Technologies Laboratories (STL) Sentinel, or TRW Space Log, but so far, I have not been able to locate either.
My guess is that the publication referred to is the trade journal Space Technology, which was subsequently merged in to Aviation Week, hence the latter's full modern name of Aviation Week and Space Technology. |
Able IV
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posted 02-24-2010 12:34 PM
I believe you are correct on the Space Technology reference. Unfortunately, only recent issues of AW&ST are available for on line search. So far AW&ST has been unresponsive to my inquiries on their 1959/60 archives. Maybe some kind collector has the back issues? |
Able IV
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posted 02-24-2010 12:42 PM
quote:
Originally posted by art540:
Ironically Astronautix reports an Atlas-Able destroyed on Feb. 15, 1960 in the same manner as Sept. 24, 1959.
The Astronautix Atlas/Able entry for 2/15/60 is indeed unique. So far, I have not been able to find corroboration for this event in any of the other usual places: NSSDC master, NASA chronologies, Jonathans, NY Times, etc. |
Proponent
Member Posts: 59
From: London
Registered: Oct 2008
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posted 02-24-2010 11:59 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Able IV:
I believe you are correct on the Space Technology reference. Unfortunately, only recent issues of AW&ST are available for on line search. So far AW&ST has been unresponsive to my inquiries on their 1959/60 archives. Maybe some kind collector has the back issues?
I'll be passing through London on Friday and am *hoping* to make it to the British Library. The catalogue lists the Jan. 1960 issue of Space Technology as being in transit, so even if I do get to the Library, I probably won't be able to get that issue. But there's an off chance.... If I can't make a copy, is there any particular information you seek? |
Able IV
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posted 02-25-2010 07:41 AM
The Sept 25, 1960, P-30 launch where ground control actually ignited the Able V-A engine is the most interesting. Any additional information on the results of the engine firing would be very exciting. Thanks much for the extra effort. |
kr4mula
Member Posts: 642
From: Cinci, OH
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 02-25-2010 11:21 AM
We've got pretty much all the Aviation Weeks back to the 1910s (I believe) in our library at work. I'll take a look around some of those dates to see if I can find anything. If you know of a specific issue date (or better yet an article), that would cut down on some time for me. I probably won't be able to get to it until next week. |
art540
Member Posts: 432
From: Orange, California USA
Registered: Sep 2006
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posted 02-25-2010 10:23 PM
In regard to the Astronautix Atlas-Able entry for Feb. 15, 1960 all the evidence is that this is an error. No such vehicle was at the Cape at that time based on flight histories from the two available pads. Of note the pad identified was LC-13 which was an ICBM pad and gantry configuration. |
Able IV
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posted 02-28-2010 09:23 AM
quote:
Originally posted by kr4mula:
If you know of a specific issue date (or better yet an article), that would cut down on some time for me.
The for the P-3 11-24-1959 launch, the specific refence I have is noted above: "Space Technol., 3, No 1, 24-25, Jan. 1960."For the P-30 9-25-1960 launch the two reference are: McLeod, M. G., Able-5 search coil magnetometer, Space Technol. Lab., Inc., STL/TR-60-0000-02346, Los Angeles, Calif., Oct. 1960. Yaffee, M., Scientists analyze lunar orbit failure, Aviation Week Space Technol., 73, 34, Oct. 1960. For the P-31 12-15-1960 launch the reference is: McLeod, M. G., Able-5 search coil magnetometer, Space Technol. Lab., Inc., STL/TR-60-0000-02346, Los Angeles, Calif., Oct. 1960.
These references all come from the NSSDC/NASA pages on the these missions. So far, I have none these articles. Also possible that AW&ST had releavant articles in addition to those cited above. Many thanks for your kind assistance. |
Proponent
Member Posts: 59
From: London
Registered: Oct 2008
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posted 03-01-2010 06:49 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Able IV:
The for the P-3 11-24-1959 launch, the specific refence I have is noted above: "Space Technol., 3, No 1, 24-25, Jan. 1960."
Sorry, I was not able to get the relevant issue of Space Technology on this visit. I'll let you know next time I'm heading there. |
kr4mula
Member Posts: 642
From: Cinci, OH
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 03-01-2010 11:00 AM
I'll check for the articles when I have some free time later this week and get back with you. |
kr4mula
Member Posts: 642
From: Cinci, OH
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 03-11-2010 01:14 PM
I finally had a chance to visit our library. I found three articles related to Able IV in Av Week: - "'Propeller Blades' Control Able IV Heat," AW, 7 Sep 59, p. 29.
- "Attempt to Launch Lunar-Orbiting Payload Fails," AW, 7 Dec 59, pp. 52-53.
- Michael Yaffee, "Scientists Analyze Lunar Orbit Failure," AW, 3 Oct 60, p. 34.
I photocopied these, scanned the copies (not the best for resolution, unfortunately, but readable), and will e-mail the .pdf file to the address you gave in your initial post.Incidentally, we don't have any issues of Space Technology, which appears to have been an entirely separate publication from Aviation Week (& Space Technology). Av Week added "Including Space Technology" to its masthead in March 1958, and your reference indicates Space Technology was published as late as 1960, so I don't think the two merged. |
Able IV
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posted 04-14-2010 01:04 PM
quote:
Originally posted by kr4mula:
I don't think the two merged.
I agree. All the evidence seems to point to Space Technology and Aviation Week as being two distinct periodicals in 1959/1960. |
Able IV
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posted 01-12-2011 09:36 AM
I've finally completed my website on the World's First Space engine - Able IV.I've include a lot of the reference material which several of you have contributed. Particular thanks for their specific contributions are owed to Art LeBrun, Gideon Marcus, Scott Schneeweis, and Kevin Rusnak. I have enjoyed the research and discovering ever more details of this history making space engine. I expect to continue to learn more and plan to keep the Able IV website updated with new information. collectSPACE was a great resource to meet fellow space history enthusiasts and get my research project "launched." Thanks again to all. Bob Enichen |
jasonelam
Member Posts: 691
From: Monticello, KY USA
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 01-12-2011 10:00 AM
Really good website! Very interesting information on a piece of space history that is not commonly know (but should be). Really enjoyed all of the information! Great job!  |
kking
Member Posts: 106
From: Topmost, KY
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 01-13-2011 12:42 PM
Really good site. I'd love to see more history sites before 1961. Again great site.Kyle |
Able IV
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posted 01-21-2011 10:42 AM
The 360 view feature is now functional on the Able IV website. |
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