The core element of WS-117L was a new multipurpose spacecraft with boost and manoeuvering engines, which would act as the second stage of the launch vehicle as well as the carrier vehicle for the reconnaissance system. The initial primary goal of WS-117L was the development an orbital photo-reconnaissance platform, and in October 1956, Lockheed became prime contractor for the system. Air Force began its Weapons System 117L program, calling for the development of a strategic satellite system. Air Force allocated the formal missile designator RM-81 to the Agena (see section on RM-81 Designation for details). It is included in this missile directory, because the U.S. The Agena itself was actually the first general-purpose satellite, and formed the core for many operational satellites and experimental space vehicles. The Agena space vehicle was used in large numbers during the 1960s and 1970s as upper stage with SLV-2 Thor, SLV-3 Atlas and SLV-5 Titan boosters to launch a variety of military and civilian payloads into orbit. The engine had gimbaled nozzles for pitch and yaw control, and could deliver a thrust of 68.9 kN (15,500 lb) for up to 120 s. The first few Agena A's flown used a Bell XLR81-BA-3 rocket engine, but later vehicles in the series used an XLR81-BA-5 (Bell Model 8048). The first launch of a Thor-Agena combination in January 1959 was a failure, but on 28 February that year, Agena scored its first success and placed the Discoverer 1 satellite into polar orbit. Lockheed's Agena stage was built around the Bell XLR81 liquid-propellant rocket engine, and was initially known informally as Hustler because the XLR81 was originally developed for a cancelled rocket-powered weapons pod for the B-58 Hustler bomber. The core element of WS-117L was a new multipurpose spacecraft with boost and maneuvering engines, which would act as the second stage of the launch vehicle as well as the carrier vehicle for the reconnaissance system. The initial goal was the development an orbital photo-reconnaissance platform, and in October 1956, Lockheed became prime contractor for the system. Air Force began the WS-117L program, calling for the development of a strategic satellite system. The Agena itself was actually the first general-purpose satellite, and formed the core for many operational satellites and experimental space vehicles.ĪKA: RM-81. Nitric acid/UDMH propellant rocket stage.
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