Percheron

American low cost orbital launch vehicle. Low cost commercial test vehicle. First test failed and satellite launch project sank for lack of further investors and customers.

Status: Retired 1981. First Launch: 1981年08月05日. Last Launch: 1981年08月05日. Number: 1 . Thrust: 588.00 kN (132,187 lbf). Height: 18.00 m (59.00 ft). Diameter: 1.20 m (3.90 ft).

The vehicle was funded by Space Services, Inc of Houston, Texas and was built by GCH, Inc (Gary C. Hudson). The booster featured a modular design using liquid oxygen-kerosene stages 18 m long and 1.2 m in diameter, with an engine producing 27,300 kgf of thrust.

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Family: LCLVs, low cost, orbital launch vehicle. Country: USA. Launch Sites: Matagorda Island. Agency: Space Services. Bibliography: 2, 5.

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1981 August 5 - . Launch Site: Matagorda Island. Launch Vehicle: Percheron. FAILURE: Exploded on launch pad due to liquid oxygen tank overpressurization.. Failed Stage: 1.

• Percheron Research and Development Flight - . Nation: USA. Decay Date: 1981年08月05日 . COSPAR: F810805A.

  Failure of a liquid oxygen valve led to the oxidiser tank over-pressurising, collapse of the liquid oxygen to kerosene tank bulkhead; intermixing of the propellants, and finally an on-pad explosion without lift-off. The vehicle was funded by Space Services, Inc of Houston, Texas and was built by GCH, Inc (Gary C. Hudson). The booster featured a modular design using liquid oxygen-kerosene stages 18 m long and 1.2 m in diameter, with an engine producing 27,300 kgf of thrust.

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