Nova 5S

This page no longer updated from 31 October 2001. Latest version can be found at www.astronautix.com

Nova 5S

Nova NASA 5 Solids - Nova NASA 5 Solid Motors

Credit: © Mark Wade. 1,689 bytes. 50 x 442 pixels.

Family: Nova. Country: USA. Status: Study, NASA, 1960.

Nova design using segmented solid motors in first and second stages. Five six segment motors in first stage; four four segment motors in second stage, equivalent to 9 x F-1 first stage and 4 x F-1 second stage.

Specifications

LEO Payload: 176,000 kg. to: 160 km Orbit. at: 0.0 degrees. Payload: 59,000 kg. to a: translunar trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 12,927,100 kgf. Total Mass: 10,076,200 kg. Core Diameter: 10.1 m. Total Length: 147.0 m.

Stage Number: 1. 5 x Nova Solid 6 Gross Mass: 1,224,000 kg. Empty Mass: 153,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 2,857,000 kgf. Isp: 263 sec. Burn time: 97 sec. Isp(sl): 238 sec. Diameter: 5.2 m. Span: 5.2 m. Length: 45.7 m. Propellants: Solid No Engines: 1. 200 inch solid, segment x 6
Stage Number: 2. 4 x Nova Solid 4 Gross Mass: 816,000 kg. Empty Mass: 102,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 1,134,000 kgf. Isp: 285 sec. Burn time: 175 sec. Diameter: 5.2 m. Span: 5.2 m. Length: 35.1 m. Propellants: Solid No Engines: 1. 200 inch solid, segment x 4
Stage Number: 3. 1 x Nova 9L-3 Gross Mass: 363,000 kg. Empty Mass: 36,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 544,000 kgf. Isp: 420 sec. Burn time: 250 sec. Diameter: 10.1 m. Span: 10.1 m. Length: 21.3 m. Propellants: Lox/LH2 No Engines: 6. J-2
Stage Number: 4. 1 x Nova 9L-4 Gross Mass: 118,000 kg. Empty Mass: 14,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 181,000 kgf. Isp: 420 sec. Burn time: 235 sec. Diameter: 6.7 m. Span: 6.7 m. Length: 20.7 m. Propellants: Lox/LH2 No Engines: 2. J-2

Nova 5S Chronology

1961 Jun 23 -

Saturn C-2 discontinued
NASA announced that further engineering design work on the Saturn C-2 configuration would be discontinued and that effort instead would be redirected toward clarification of the Saturn C-3 and Nova concepts. Investigations were specifically directed toward determining capabilities of the proposed C-3 configuration in supporting the Apollo mission.

Bibliography:

216 - Hobbs, Marvin, Fundamentals of Rockets, Missiles, and Spacecraft, John F Rider, 1961..

Nova Concepts - NASA

Back to Index

Last update 12 March 2001.
Definitions of Technical Terms.
Contact Mark Wade with any corrections or comments.
Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
© Mark Wade, 2001 .