The Agena - Transportation workhorse of space
Abstract
The Agena is a flexible space propulsion vehicle designed to serve as an upper stage booster and/or a spacecraft. A modular concept allows the Agena to be used as an upper stage to various boosters, as a deliverer of one or more separable spacecraft, as a spacecraft support vehicle, or as an independent spacecraft. The evolution and use of the Agena is discussed. It has been used for defense projects, Mariner, NIMBUS, Orbiting Astronomical Observatory, Lunar Orbiter, and other programs. Use of the Agena as an upper stage for the Space Shuttle is being studied. Basic functional systems of the Agena, including structure, propulsion, electrical power, guidance and control, and communications, are discussed. Agena operations from the Western and Eastern Test Ranges and its performance are described.
- Publication:
-
Amsterdam International Astronautical Federation Congress
- Pub Date:
- September 1974
- Bibcode:
- 1974amst.iafcS....G
- Keywords:
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- Agena Rocket Vehicles;
- Propulsion System Performance;
- Rocket Engine Design;
- Space Transportation;
- Performance Tests;
- Reusable Rocket Engines;
- Space Shuttles;
- Spacecraft Propulsion;
- Launch Vehicles and Space Vehicles