"Flight Separation Mechanisms"

by TRW Systems Group/TRW, McDonnell Douglas, The Boeing Company, The Aerospace Corporation, Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, General Dynamics, North American Rockwell, LTV Aerospace, and NASA Langley Research Center scientists and engineers

Flight Separation Mechanisms

by TRW Systems Group/TRW, McDonnell Douglas, The Boeing Company, The Aerospace Corporation, Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, General Dynamics, North American Rockwell, LTV Aerospace, and NASA Langley Research Center scientists and engineers

This NASA reference book covers mechanisms that are used during flight to jettison stages and components that are no longer needed, to uncover equipment, or to deploy payloads.  It includes state-of-the-art release devices, separation-impulse devices, and auxiliary devices.

The text also explains the design, analysis, and test processes for these flight separation mechanisms-- development, qualification, environmental, functional, ordnance, and acceptance tests.  Further, there is a chapter devoted to recommended practices for design, analysis and testing.

It's important to note that high-levels of reliability are demanded of these units--from 0.999 to 0.9999 rates. 

Among the mechanisms examined in detail are:

Linear-shaped charges

Mild detonating fuze

V-clamp bands with point-release devices

Diaphragm devices

Fragmenting and non-fragmenting explosive bolts and nuts

Impact-failure bolts

Pin pullers and pushers (gas and spring-actuated)

Soft joint devices

Bullock pins

Stage ignition ("fire in the hole") devices

Auxiliary rockets (cold-gas, hot-gas, and solid propellant)

Thrust reversal devices

Springs, gas-operated pistons and bellows

Separation switches, rollers, rails, sway braces, linkages, yo-tumble systems, spin-up and despin mechanisms

The contents are the result of more than 30 years of investigations by the world's largest missile, rocket, and spacecraft engineers, scientists, technicians, and propulsion contractors.  Literally millions and millions of dollars were spent obtaining this critical data. 

This seems to be the most complete and comprehensive book ever written about how to design, build, inspect, and test flight separation mechanisms.  Study this exceptional text and you'll learn more than you ever imagined possible about the subject. 

Plus, there are three pages of technical references, much more not mentioned here!

Hard to find and now out-of-print, this new limited edition has been republished by the Rocket Science Institute.  It's printed with a high-resolution laser printer (not photocopied) on high-quality, bright-white, 24-lb acid-free paper for years of reference use.  39 pages, large and easy-to-read 11" x 8-1/2" size.  $14.95

We ship to anywhere in the world!  You pay only actual postal costs.

For details about how to order a book, click here.

If you have any questions that aren't answered here, please contact us at:

The Rocket Science Institute is a non-profit scientific and educational foundation in support of "amateur" experimental rocket science, engineering, and technology.