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Low cost orbital launch vehicle. Year: 1981. Family: LCLV. Country: USA. Status: Out of production. Low cost commercial test vehicle. First test failed and satellite launch project sank for lack of further investors and customers. The vehicle was funded by Space Services, Inc of Houston, Texas and was built by GCH, Inc (Gary C. Hudson). The booster featured a modular design using liquid oxygen-kerosene stages 18 m long and 1.2 m in diameter, with an engine producing 27,300 kgf of thrust. Launches: 1. Failures: 1. Success Rate: 0.00%. First Launch Date: 1981-08-05. Last Launch Date: 1981-08-05. Launch data is: complete. Liftoff Thrust: 588.000 kN (132,187 lbf). Core Diameter: 1.20 m (3.90 ft). Total Length: 18.00 m (59.00 ft).
Percheron Chronology 1981 August 5 - Launch Site: Matagorda Island. Launch Vehicle: Percheron. Model: Percheron. FAILURE: Exploded on launch pad due to liquid oxygen tank overpressurisation. - Percheron Research and Development Flight Nation: USA. COSPAR: F810805A. Decay Date: 1981-08-05. Failure of a liquid oxygen valve led to the oxidiser tank over-pressurising, collapse of the liquid oxygen to kerosene tank bulkhead; intermixing of the propellants, and finally an on-pad explosion without lift-off. The vehicle was funded by Space Services, Inc of Houston, Texas and was built by GCH, Inc (Gary C. Hudson). The booster featured a modular design using liquid oxygen-kerosene stages 18 m long and 1.2 m in diameter, with an engine producing 27,300 kgf of thrust.References: 5.
Bibliography and Further Reading - McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
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