The Common Core Booster (CCB) is an American rocket stage, which is used as the first stage of the
Atlas V
Atlas V is an expendable launch system and the fifth major version in the Atlas launch vehicle family. It was originally designed by Lockheed Martin, now being operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Lockheed Mart ...
rocket as part of its
modular design. It was also intended that two additional CCBs would be used as boosters on the Atlas V Heavy, however this configuration has not been developed. Use of a Common Core Booster as the first stage of the
Japanese
GX was also planned; however, this program was cancelled in late 2009.
The Common Core Booster is long, has a diameter of and is powered by a single
RD-180 engine burning
RP-1
RP-1 (alternatively, Rocket Propellant-1 or Refined Petroleum-1) is a highly refined form of kerosene outwardly similar to jet fuel, used as rocket fuel. RP-1 provides a lower specific impulse than liquid hydrogen (LH2), but is cheaper, is s ...
and
liquid oxygen
Liquid oxygen—abbreviated LOx, LOX or Lox in the aerospace, submarine and gas industries—is the liquid form of molecular oxygen. It was used as the oxidizer in the first liquid-fueled rocket invented in 1926 by Robert H. Goddard, an app ...
.
Testing of the CCB and its RD-180 engines was conducted in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
at the
Marshall Space Flight Center, and in
Khimki,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
. The test programme concluded with the final engine test in December 2001. The first launch of a Common Core Booster was the maiden flight of the Atlas V, which was launched from
Space Launch Complex 41 at the
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) is an installation of the United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45, located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida.
Headquartered at the nearby Patrick Space Force Base, the statio ...
on 21 August 2002.
As of November 2020, the Atlas V has made 86 flights, all of which have used a single Common Core Booster.
See also
*
Universal Rocket Module
Universal Rocket Module (URM) is the name of the modular Liquid rocket, liquid fuelled first and second stage of the Angara (rocket family), Angara expendable launch system. The first stage and booster variant is referred to as URM-1, while the s ...
, the
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
n
Angara common core.
*
Falcon Heavy
Falcon Heavy is a partially reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle that is produced by SpaceX, an American aerospace manufacturer. The rocket consists of two strap-on boosters made from Falcon 9 first stages, a center core also made from a Falc ...
, the
SpaceX Falcon 9 multi-core variant.
References
Atlas (rocket family)
Rocket stages
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