Liberty (rocket)
Liberty was a 2011 launch vehicle concept proposed by Northrop Grumman Space Systems (formerly Orbital ATK) and Airbus Defence and Space (formerly Astrium) for phase 2 of the NASA Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program intended to stimulate development of privately operated crew vehicles to low Earth orbit.
Artist's conception | |
| Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman Space Systems Airbus Defence and Space |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States Europe |
| Size | |
| Height | 300 ft (90.00 m) |
| Diameter | 18 ft (5.40 m) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Mass | 44,500 lb (20,000 kg) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Preceded by Ares I Followed by OmegA |
| First stage | |
| Powered by | 5-segment Shuttle-derived Solid Rocket Booster |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by | 1 × Vulcain 2 |
| Maximum thrust | 301243 pounds (1,340 kN) |
| Specific impulse | 431 seconds (vacuum) |
| Burn time | 650 seconds |
| Propellant | LOX/LH2 |
Similar to the defunct Ares I project, which consisted of a five segment Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) and a new cryogenic second stage, Liberty would combine a five-segment SRB with the core stage of the European Ariane 5 as a second stage. It was intended to be launched from Kennedy Space Center.
Liberty was proposed as a vehicle to service the International Space Station for crew and cargo, but its capacities could potentially have allowed for government and commercial satellite launches, including to Geostationary transfer orbit.
The launcher was proposed to be 300 feet (91 m) in height, with an advertised price of $180 million per launch. Liberty had a projected payload of 44,500 lb (20,000 kg) to Low Earth orbit.