Burner (rocket stage)

Short description: Rocket stage which can be used as a space tug

The Burner, Burner II, and Burner IIA rocket stages have been used as upper stages of launch vehicles such as the Thor-Burner and Delta since 1965. The Burner 1 stage was also called the Altair stage and was derived from the fourth stage of the Scout launch vehicle.[1] The Burner 2 stage was powered by a Star 37 solid rocket motor.

In September 1965, Air Force Space Systems Division announced the development of a new, low cost upper stage called Burner II. It was intended as the smallest maneuverable upper stage in the Air Force inventory. In June 1967, the first Thor/Burner II vehicle successfully launched a pair of satellites to orbit. In June 1969, the Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO) began development of the Burner IIA configuration which would offer a tandem motor injection capability and almost twice the capability of Burner II.[2] In June 1971, the last of the Burner II missions was launched from Vandenberg by a Thor/Burner II launch vehicle and carried an SESP-1 space environmental satellite.[3]

In addition to use on Delta family rockets, Burner 2 stages have been used on both Atlas and Titan rockets.[4] Atlas E/F vehicles were configured with a Burner II/IIA stage and launched in 1968 and 1972. The first launch failed with the second delivering a radiation research payload for the Space Test Program (P72-1 Radsat) using Burner IIA.[5]

In the mid-1970s Burner II was also studied for use as an upper stage in combination with the Space Shuttle. NASA managers choose other solutions for missions where upper stages were required.[6]

## References

1. ↑ Launius, Roger D.; Dennis R. Jenkins (2002). To Reach the High Frontier: A History of U.S. Launch Vehicles. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 186–213. ISBN 0813127211. https://books.google.com/books?id=mUNS96ZHyNUC.
2. ↑ ﻿Space and Missile Systems Organization, A Chronology, 1954-1979﻿ (Report). Defense Technical Information Center. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA369676.pdf. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
3. ↑ White, J. Terry (June 4, 2012). "Thor Burner II Finale". White Eagle Aerospace. https://www.whiteeagleaerospace.com/thor-burner-ii-finale/.
4. ↑ "Star 37". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/stages/star37.htm.
5. ↑ Powell, J.W.; Richards, G.R. (1991). "The Atlas E/F Launch Vehicle - An Unsung Workhorse". Journal of the British Interplanetary Society 44: 229–240. Bibcode: 1991JBIS...44..229P. https://www.atlasmissilesilo.com/Documents/AZ-D-O-999-99-ZZ-00005_Atlas_E_F_LaunchVehicle_UnsungWorkhorse.pdf.
6. ↑ Weyers, Vernon J.; Sagerman, Gary D.; Borsody, Janos; Lubick, Robert J. (June 1974). ﻿Comparative Evaluation of Existing Expendable Upper Stages for Space Shuttle﻿ (Report). NASA NTRS. p. 9. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19740022194/downloads/19740022194.pdf. Retrieved December 3, 2022.

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Upper stages

Active|

* AVUM
* Briz
* Castor 30
* Centaur
* CTS / SMA
* DCSS
* DM-03
* Fregat
* Star 27 / 37 / 48
* Volga
* Yuanzheng

Planned|

* Advanced Cryogenic Evolved Stage
* Exploration Upper Stage
* KVTK

Retired|

* Agena
* Able
* Altair
* Astris
* Blok 2BL
* Blok D
* Burner
* Delta-D
* Delta-K
* Delta-P
* EPKM
* FG-02
* Ikar
* Inertial Upper Stage
* KVD-1
* Payload Assist Module
* Saturn IV
* Saturn IVB
* Transfer Orbit Stage
* Transtage

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