castor® 30/30xl

CASTOR® 30/30XL
Low-cost, robust, state-of-the-art upper-stage motors
FACT SHEET
Upper-Stage Solid Rocket Motors
Orbital ATK developed the CASTOR® 30 family in response to a market need
for large-diameter, upper-stage solid rocket motors. The motor family has the
flexibility to serve markets as diverse as space launch, Prompt Global Strike
(PGS) and Operationally Responsive Space (ORS). These motors join a
heritage of Orbital ATK CASTOR motors with proven high reliability for more
than 50 years. CASTOR 30 motors are based on the CASTOR 120 ® motor,
which has flown on the Taurus® XL, Athena I and Athena II launch vehicles.
The CASTOR 30 and CASTOR 30XL motors are currently used as the second
stage of the Antares™ launch vehicle performing resupply missions to the
International Space Station.
Orbital ATK currently manufactures a complete line of first- and secondstage and strap-on CASTOR solid rocket motors. The CASTOR heritage was
developed from four generations of first-stage ballistic missile boosters and the
technology and experience at Orbital ATK.
FAC T S AT A G L A N C E
•
The CASTOR 30 motor was used as the
Antares second stage for the first four
missions
•
The CASTOR 30XL took its place starting
with the fifth flight of Antares
•
Based on the CASTOR 120 ® motor
CASTOR® 30/30XL Fact Sheet
Background
The CASTOR 30 and CASTOR 30XL motors have both been
successfully test fired at simulated altitude at the Air Force's Arnold
Engineering Development Center in Tennessee. The CASTOR 30XL
team took the static fire motor from concept to completion in less
than two years.
Features
The CASTOR 30 measures 138 inches in length, 92 inches in
diameter and weighs 30,000 pounds. The motor is nominally
designed as an upper stage that can function as a second or third
stage as well, depending on the vehicle configuration. Its design
uses all flight-proven technology and materials while capitalizing on
Orbital ATK’s extensive experience in solid motor development and
manufacturing. The CASTOR 30XL solid rocket motor is 236 inches
in length, 92 inches in diameter and weighs approximately 58,000
pounds. The nozzle is eight feet long with a submerged design with
a high-performance expansion ratio and a dual density exit cone
well suited for high-altitude operation.
Applications
The versatile CASTOR 30 family of motors has multiple commercial
and government applications including:
• Antares, a medium-lift Commercial Orbital Transportation
System (COTS) application
• Athena launch vehicles
For information contact: DefenseandCommercialBdev@orbitalatk.com
March 2016
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