Remnant of a solar panel from the SUPERBID B satellite - Lot 139

Lot 139
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150 - 300 EUR
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Result : 198EUR
Remnant of a solar panel from the SUPERBID B satellite - Lot 139
Remnant of a solar panel from the SUPERBID B satellite Framed piece with description D. 26 x 21 x 4.5 - L. (piece) 10 cm Ariane 4 V36 took off on February 22, 1990, carrying two Japanese satellites: Superbid B and BS 2x. This was the European launcher's fourth flight in the four-liquid-accelerator configuration (44L H10). 100 seconds after ignition, the rocket tipped over and exploded under aerodynamic pressure 12500 meters from the launch pad, due to a blocked pipe. This piece of solar panel was found by a CNES employee based in Kourou at the time of the accident, who took part in the search for the remains. A note on the back of the frame indicates its provenance. The object shows the edge of a solar panel from the period (with manufacturer's details) and is linked to one of Arianespace's most important incidents. Initially, V35 (version 44L) was to carry the two Japanese satellites BS-2X and Superbird B, and V36 (version 40, without the 4 thrusters) was to carry SPOT 2 + 6 micro-satellites. A delay on one of the satellites forced Arianespace to reverse the payloads. V35 successfully launched SPOT. The 44L version of V36 was used to launch the 2 Japanese satellites. This change made it possible avoided a major catastrophe. Had there been no delay, it is highly probable that V36, light (without the 4 4L thrusters) and lacking power, would have snagged on the launch tower before exploding. before exploding. But since there were thrusters, there may have been a slight correction in trajectory, and the rocket may not have exploded. and the rocket only grazed the tower. On February 22, 1990, Arianespace flight V36 took off with two Japanese satellites, SUPERBIRD B and BS 2x. This was the 3rd flight of the Ariane 4 launcher in 4-accelerator Liquid configuration - Ariane 44L H10. The flight lasted just 100 seconds! H0: Ignition of the 4 Viking V engines on the L200 stage and each of the Viking VI engines on the PAL - Liquid strap-on booster. H0 + 00:00:04.4: Lift-off (00:17:00) H0 + 00:00:06.2: Engine D pressure drops from 57.9 bar to 30 bar. As thrust is no longer symmetrical, the rocket leans towards the side of the failed engine (grazing the launch tower at 3 m instead of 7 m for a normal launch) and rises sideways. H0 + 00:00:08.5: Turn order to compensate H0 + 00:01:30: Nozzle turn command at 4°. H0 + 00:01:42 : The remaining 6 motors can no longer compensate for the failure of the 2 motors. The rocket tilts, breaks up and explodes under aerodynamic pressure. The rocket is 9,000 m high and 12,500 m from its launch pad. The pipe in question was found in the mangrove swamp at Kourou. It was a feed pipe for the first-stage D engine, which also supplied a liquid propellant. A rag tied at 2 ends was found. Apparently, it had been placed close enough to the valve so that the 2 engines would cease to be supplied with water very quickly. Probably already before take-off Since V36, we've been counting the number of rags used, and we now use an endoscope to check the engines for foreign parts.
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