Orion Test Article
Launch vehicle · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Preparation of Orion pulse test vehicle.
American nuclear pulse test vehicle. The original test article for Project Orion had a total mass of 133 kg including its bullet-shaped outer shell.
Six charges, each with 1.04 kg of C4 high explosive, were ejected from the rear of the pusher plate and exploded 866 mm behind the plate. An initial charge of 452 kg of gunpowder in a mortar-like launch cylinder got the craft going. The original article was too heavy to accelerate after running out of momentum from the original charge.
Related
- Family
- nuclear pulse, test vehicle
- Country
- USA
- Agency
- General Atomic