Nova A
Launch vehicle · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Credit: © Mark Wade
American heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle. Convair/Ehricke Nova design using standard tank/engine modules of 4.9 m diameter in both first and second stages; 4 F-1 engine/modules in first stage, 4 J-2 engine/modules in second stage.
LEO Payload: 68,000 kg (149,000 lb) to a 556 km orbit. Payload: 27,000 kg (59,000 lb) to a earth escape.
Stage Data - Nova A
- Stage 1. 1 x Nova A-1. Gross Mass: 1,342,000 kg (2,958,000 lb). Empty Mass: 73,000 kg (160,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 30,616.000 kN (6,882,750 lbf). Isp: 304 sec. Burn time: 121 sec. Isp(sl): 265 sec. Diameter: 9.80 m (32.10 ft). Span: 11.90 m (39.00 ft). Length: 28.00 m (91.00 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 4. Engine: F-1. Status: Study General Dynamics 1960.
- Stage 2. 1 x Nova A-2. Gross Mass: 403,000 kg (888,000 lb). Empty Mass: 29,000 kg (63,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 5,334.000 kN (1,199,130 lbf). Isp: 420 sec. Burn time: 284 sec. Isp(sl): 150 sec. Diameter: 9.80 m (32.10 ft). Span: 11.90 m (39.00 ft). Length: 23.80 m (78.00 ft). Propellants: Lox/LH2. No Engines: 4. Engine: J-2. Status: Study General Dynamics 1960.
- Stage 3. 1 x Nova A-3. Gross Mass: 40,000 kg (88,000 lb). Empty Mass: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb). Thrust (vac): 313.000 kN (70,365 lbf). Isp: 427 sec. Burn time: 480 sec. Diameter: 5.80 m (19.00 ft). Span: 5.80 m (19.00 ft). Length: 13.10 m (42.90 ft). Propellants: Lox/LH2. No Engines: 5. Engine: RL-10. Status: Study General Dynamics 1960.
Related
- Family
- heavy-lift, orbital launch vehicle
- Country
- USA
- Agency
- Convair
Chronology
2 events
1961 June 10
LV Family: Nova. Launch Vehicle: Nova A.- Preparation for NOVA rocket motor tests. - . Nation: USA. National Bureau of Standards broke ground for new research facility at Gaithersburg, Md., which will include a mega-pound deadweight testing machine to provide measurement standards for multimillion rocket thrust requirements..