VSB-30 explained

VSB-30 - "Veículo de Sondagem Booster – 30" (Booster Sounding Vehicle) or "Foguete Suborbital VSB-30" is the designation of a Brazilian sounding rocket, which replaced the Skylark rocket at Esrange.

The VSB-30 is based on the VS-30 rocket (S-30 engine) with the addition of a booster stage (S-31 engine). Development started in 2000 in cooperation with DLR.^[1] The rocket can carry a payload of 400 kg to an altitude of 270 km. It has a liftoff thrust of 240 kN and a total mass of 2570 kg. It has a diameter of 0.56 m and a length of 12.6 m.

VSB-30 was first launched on October 23, 2004, at Alcântara Launch Center. The first launch at Esrange took place on December 1, 2005.

Flights

VSB-30 performed the following flights:^{[2] [3] [4]}

Characteristics

VSB-30 has the following configuration:

• Length (mm): 12600
• Stages: 2
• Payload Mass (kg): 400
• Diameter (mm): 570
• Total takeoff mass (kg): 2570
• Apogee (Max km): 270

Stages

• Gross Mass: 1,200 kg (2,646 lb)
• Unfuelled mass: 341 kg (752 lb)
• Height: 3.30 m (10.80 ft)
• Diameter: 0.56 m (1.83 ft)
• Thrust: 102.00 kN (22,930 lbf)
• Burn time: 20 s

S-31 solid rocket stage

• Gross Mass: 900 kg (1,984 lb)
• Unfuelled mass: 284 kg (626 lb)
• Height: 3.20 m (10.40 ft)
• Diameter: 0.56 m (1.83 ft)
• Thrust: 240.00 kN (53,950 lbf)
• Burn time: 11 s

S-31 rocket engine

The VSB-30 sounding rocket uses the S-31 motor as first stage. The S-31 is also used in other various configurations like the VSB-30 Improved Orion, S-31 Improved Orion, S-31 Improved Malemute and S-31 Improved Malemute Improved Orion.^{[7] [8] [9]}

The S-31 is a solid-fuel rocket motor developed and manufactured in Brazil by Avibras Aeroespacial.^[10]

S-31 specifications

• Type: Solid-fuel rocket motor
• Fuel: HTPB-based composite propellant
• Thrust: 240 kN
• Burn time: 11 seconds
• Diameter: 56 cm
• Length: 3.2 meters
• Fuel Mass: 284 kg
• Total Mass: 900 kg

See also

• VS-30
• VS-40
• List of rockets

External links

• History of Brazilian space launchers: VSB-30
• Space Agency of Brazil: VSB-30

Notes and References

1. Web site: VSB-30 - IAE . 2023-12-03 . iae.dcta.mil.br.
2. Web site: VSB-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150824123415/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/vsb30.htm . 2015-08-24 . 2015-08-05.
3. Web site: S-30 family . space.skyrocket.de.
4. Web site: VSB-30 . 2023-12-03 . Gunter's Space Page . en.
5. Web site: IAE Lança Com Sucesso Mais um Foguete VSB-30 .
6. Web site: FAB realiza primeiro teste de voo do motor aeronáutico hipersônico 14-X - Força Aérea Brasileira . 2022-04-15 . www.fab.mil.br.
7. Web site: S-30 Family . 2025-07-16 . Gunter's Space Page . en.
8. Web site: S-31 . 2025-07-16 . www.astronautix.com.
9. Book: MORABA Sounding Rocket Launch Vehicles . German Aerospace Center . 14.
10. Web site: Avibras Indústria Aeroespacial S/A - Space . 2025-07-16 . www.avibras.com.br.