VSB-30 V05 Texus 44

Scale 1:32 and 1:96 Published: November 24, 2015

The model
This model comes in two versions. A larger version in scale 1:32. When fully assembled on the stand, it is 44 cm high. You will be able to separate the model in to the first S-30 stage, the second S-31 stage, the payload section and the removable nosecone.

The smaller version is in scale 1:96. It is the same scale as many of my models available at the models-page. It comes with a removable stand. Mounted on the stand, it is about 14 cm high.

Download

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Modelsheet VSB-30 Texus 44 scale 1-32 (361 KB)

Instruction scale 1-32 (266 KB)

Stand scale 1-32 ( 134 KB)

Modelsheet VSB-30 Texus 44 scale 1-96 (248 KB)

Instruction scale 1-96 (426 KB)

Stand scale 1-96 (134 KB)

History of VSB-30 

The German TEXUS sounding rocket program dates back to 1976. TEXUS stands for “Technologische Experimente unter Schwerelosigkeit” (Technological experiments in weightlessness).

When the TEXUS-rocket follows a parabolic trajectory in which few minutes of weightlessness are achieved. This creates a valuable vibration-free microgravity environment for different kinds of scientific experiments. The TEXUS rockets are launched from ESRANGE in Kiruna, Sweden.

For many years the British skylark 7 rocket was used. In 2005 the skylark rocket was no longer available, so it was replaced with the VSB-30 rocket.
 

The VSB-30 rocket origins from the Brazilian solid sounding-rockets SONDA. In 1996 the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Brazilian Comando Geral de Tecnologia Aeroespacial (DCTA) creates a new sounding rocket VS-30 combining the thirds stage of the SONDA III-rocket with the payload section of the mini-TEXUS.
 
Later in 2004 a new S31-stage added to the existing S30-stage and the two-stage VSB-30 was born.  The first launch was from Alcântara Launcher Center (CLA), Brazil on October 23, 2004.
 

The first operational flight from ESRANGE, Kiruna, Sweden took place on December 1, 2005. 

This model was designed for Sint-Pieterscollege Jette, Brussel, Belgium.  

Sources:

-       Drawing by J. W. Navesnik

-       VSB-30 performance history

-       The Brazilian Sounding Rocket VSB-30

-       Günter's Space Page

-       You-tube