A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches a U.S. defense satellite into space. The payload fairing produced by RUAG Space consists of OOA CFRP panels.
A carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) payload fairing produced by RUAG Space at its Decatur, Alabama facility.
United Launch Alliance's composite-intensive Atlas V rocket completes the U.S. Space Force's Space Test Program (STP)-3 mission on Dec. 5.
"This flight is an important milestone for us," the person said. "For the first time, a fairing entirely made in the United States will fly into space." This is also the first time a payload fairing made through an out-of-autoclave (OOA) process has flown aboard an Atlas V rocket.
The fairing is made of two half-shells. Its structure is made of composite materials, namely an aluminium honeycomb core and carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) panels. Its role is to protect the payload (satellite) as it ascends through the atmosphere. “The OOA manufacturing method is an alternative process that uses only a curing oven to cure carbon fiber composites,” explained the person. He points out that it avoids expensive autoclaves and limits the size of parts that can be put inside.
Previously, RUAG Space has built the Atlas V's 5.4-meter diameter payload fairing. According to the company, these have been successfully flown more than 30 times.
The launch of STP-3 marked the 90th launch of the Atlas V rocket. It will be succeeded by the Vulcan Centaur rocket in the future, and RUAG Space will also supply it with American-made OOA CFRP fairings. In addition to the payload fairing, RUAG Space will provide payload attachments, interstage adapters and other composite components for Vulcan rockets using OAA technology.