Turbopump, Rocket Engine, Vanguard Launch Vehicle, Cutaway
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Object Details
- Manufacturer
- General Electric Company
- Summary
- This is a cutaway of the turbopump for the first stage rocket engine of the Vanguard launch vehicle. The Vanguard was the first American rocket specifically designed to launch a satellite. The first stage General Electric engine, designated X-405, produced 27,000 pounds of thrust for 142 seconds. The propellants in the X-405 were furnished to the double shell type thrust chamber by this geared turbopump powered by the decomposition products 90% hydrogen peroxide.
- The rocket malfunctioned during its first launch attempt but on March 17, 1958, it successfully placed Vanguard 1 into orbit, the second U.S. satellite (a modified U.S. Army Jupiter-C had launched Explorer 1 on January 31, 1958). There were other Vanguard failures but the Vanguard vehicle successfully placed Vanguard II into orbit on February 17, 1959.
- The Wright-Malta Corporation donated this turbopump to the Smithsonian Institution in 1976.
- Credit Line
- Gift of Malta Test Station, Balston Spa, NY
- Inventory Number
- A19760051000
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- PROPULSION-Rocket Engines
- Materials
- Stainless steel and aluminum
- Dimensions
- Overall: 1ft 10in. x 1ft 3in. x 1ft 7in. (55.88 x 38.1 x 48.26cm); weight, 75 lbs
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Air and Space Museum Collection
- National Air and Space Museum
- Record ID
- nasm_A19760051000
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Not determined
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv96ec9749d-5f16-4eee-846a-974e3883e903
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