XLR50

The GE X-405 — U.S. Navy designation XLR50-GE-2 — was a pump-fed liquid-propellant rocket engine burning RP-1 and LOX in a gas generator cycle developed by General Electric.[4] It was used to power the first stage of the Vanguard rockets on the Vanguard project. As was common to engines based on the V-2 experience, the turbine was driven by steam generated by catalytic decomposition of H2O2 and the combustion chamber was regeneratively cooled.[4][5] The engine was gimbaled to supply thrust vectoring. Also, the exhaust gases of the turbine were ducted to dual auxiliary nozzles that acted as verniers to enable roll control of the rocket.[4]

XLR50[1]
Vanguard rocket engines: rear, GE's first-stage engine; foreground, Aerojet General's second-stage engine.
Country of originUnited States
Date1957
First flight1957-10-23[2]
Last flight1959-09-18[2]
ManufacturerGeneral Electric[1]
ApplicationFirst Stage engine.[1]
Associated L/VVanguard
PredecessorGeneral Electric Hermes A-3B[3]
StatusRetired[1]
Liquid-fuel engine
PropellantLOX[1] / RP-1[1]
CycleGas Generator cycle
Configuration
Chamber1[1]
Nozzle ratio5.5[1]
Performance
Thrust (vac.)134.8 kN (30,300 lbf)[1]
Thrust (SL)123.8 kN (27,800 lbf)[1]
Chamber pressure4.2 MPa (610 psi)[1]
Isp (vac.)270 seconds (2.6 km/s)[1]
Isp (SL)248 seconds (2.43 km/s)[1]
Burn time145s[1]
Dimensions
Diameter1.14 m (45 in)[1]
Dry weight191 kg (421 lb)[1]
Used in
Vanguard first stage[1]

When the Vanguard rocket was selected as the first orbital launch vehicle for the US, Martin Company got the contract as prime contractor. Given the required thrust levels, the Viking propulsion (the Reaction Motors XLR10) was deemed insufficient, and General Electric proposal, based Hermes program, was considered more fitting and a less risky choice than Reaction Motors next project.[6][7] Thus, on October 1, 1955 Martin purchase order 55-3516-CP was signed with General Electric for the X-405 engine for furnishing a self-contained unit which was to include the thrust structure, gimbal ring, engine components, and engine starting equipment.[6]

While the first two Vanguard flight, (TV-0 and TV-1), used Viking first stages, twelve X-405 were built and eleven flew on Vanguard rockets.

References
  1. "X-405". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  2. Stemp, P.D. (2014). Kites, Birds & Stuff - Aircraft of the U.S.A. - MARTIN Aircraft. Lulu.com. p. 131. ISBN 9781291940640. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  3. Bille, Matt; Lishock, Erika (2004). "5 — The Trials of Project Vanguard". The First Space Race: Launching the World's First Satellites. Texas A&M University Press. p. 94. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  4. McLaughlin Green, Constance; Lomask, Milton (1970). "Chapter 5 — Battle Over Vehicle Specifications". Vanguard: A History (NASA SP-4202). NASA. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  5. Winter, Frank H. (1990). "3 — Rockets Enter the Space Age". Rockets Into Space. Harvard University Press. p. 71. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  6. McLaughlin Green, Constance; Lomask, Milton (1970). "Chapter 4 — Getting the Launch Program Started". Vanguard: A History (NASA SP-4202). NASA. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  7. "Hydrogen Peroxide - Propulsion & Power History: US - General Electric (1944 - 1966)". Whiskey Yankee LLC. Retrieved 2015-06-24.


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