Has an SRB been considered for use in orbit to launch to escape velocity to deep space? Consider SRB disposable and deep space vehicle continues on liquid propulsion. SRB conserves liquid propellants for later orbit maneuvers for deep space vehicle.
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1$\begingroup$ I like your question! You could ask a follow-up question more focused on the reasons and trade-offs between solid and liquid in these cases as well. $\endgroup$– uhohCommented Oct 30, 2016 at 1:38
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3 Answers
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This is referred to as 'kick stage' motor and is commonly used. One example being Star 37. A larger Star 48 is what sent New Horizons on the way to Pluto
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$\begingroup$ Star 48 was the motor in the PAM-D stage, referred to in my answer, as well. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 29, 2016 at 20:08
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$\begingroup$ I have seen "kick motor" more often then "kick stage". But both are correct, I guess. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 30, 2016 at 0:18
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$\begingroup$ @Polygnome Funnily enough, even ATK STAR product page refers to them as Motors/Stages $\endgroup$– kertCommented Oct 30, 2016 at 4:35
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5$\begingroup$ oh man! I did my Propulsion teacher a disservice for not suggesting the "motor" keyword. Industry jargon is that solid rockets are motors and liquid are engines. Good answer. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 30, 2016 at 17:55
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There's at least one example, the Inertial Upper Stage (nee Interim Upper Stage) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inertial_Upper_Stage
Wikipedia's summary is:
The Inertial Upper Stage (IUS), originally designated the Interim Upper Stage, was a two-stage solid-fueled rocket upper stage developed by Boeing for the United States Air Force beginning in 1976 for raising payloads from low Earth orbit to higher orbits or interplanetary trajectories following launch aboard a Titan 34D or Titan IV rocket, or from the payload bay of the Space Shuttle.
A pertinent search phrase would be "solid upper stages."
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The PAM-D was another solid fuel upper stage used on the Space Shuttle and Delta II launchers.
For the Shuttle application, one or more PAMs were carried in cradles in the payload bay. They were spring launched out of the bay, as in this picture, and the SRM ignited at a safe distance.
answered Oct 29, 2016 at 18:15
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$\begingroup$ Can you clarify "...solid fuel upper stage used on the Space Shuttle..."? Did the space shuttle cary a satellite into orbit and the satellite included a PAM-D? Sounds scary! $\endgroup$– uhohCommented Oct 30, 2016 at 1:35
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1$\begingroup$ Sure, added a few words and a picture. The shuttle carried IUSes too - now that was a giant SRM. americaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/tdrse.jpg At least the PAMs went straight up - the IUSes came soaring just over the crew cabin. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 30, 2016 at 2:29
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2$\begingroup$ Centaur (the specialized Centaur-G) was planned to be flown out of the Shuttle payload bay as well, but post-Challenger they decided having another Hydrolox stage in there was too scary and shelved it. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 30, 2016 at 17:53
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1$\begingroup$ Yeah, I worked on the sim for the Centaur G Prime. Trying to dump all that prop when the shuttle did an ascent abort was ... interesting. arstechnica.com/science/2015/10/… $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 30, 2016 at 20:33
