The country’s next big thing One’s Own Space Launch Vehicle (Rocket)in the name of Thunderer II.
“The program that we have been able to revive is a solid program and the human resources that we have are very good,” he said. wind Engineer Daniel Rocca, manager of access to space National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE).
“It is a very challenging project, there is a significant risk, but the truth is that the pioneers and those who overcome the obstacle achieved are courageous. So you have to be proactive in planning to achieve “, he pointed out.
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“Getting a launch vehicle into space is going to take a long time. We need a technology and stability environment. The problem that worries us or affects us most is program funding. We can go slow or fast, depending on what the situation is,” Rocca said.
What is the Tronador II project?
Space launch vehicles Thunderer II There are three of them (Tronador II-70, Tronador II-150 and Tronador II-250) and they are assembled with the aim of putting Argentine satellites into space without depending on other space agencies.
final vehicle, Thunderer II-250It is scheduled to be completed by 2030.
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He Thunderer II-70 It will be the first launch vehicle of three that will be part of the program, but it will carry out tests and not put a satellite into orbit. To be continued later Thunderer II-150. Both rockets will only make sub-orbital flights to conduct tests.
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“He Thunderer II-70 and II-150 They will be tested and will not carry satellites into Earth orbit. They are going to carry out some experiments of a technical nature. “For example, they’re going to test how a new design or new materials perform in the space environment, in microgravity conditions,” the engineer said. CONAE.
Firstly Thunderer II-70It will be launched in 2026 from a small test vehicle launch pad in Punta Indio, Argentina, about 20 kilometers from Pipinas in the province of Punta Indio. Argentina by this event Tronador II-250 will test the rocket’s second stage engine. And then when you start Thunderer II-150, The first phase will test one of the three engines of Thunderer II-250.
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finally, He Thunderer II-250 Argentina puts satellite into orbit for first time
The latest on Argentina’s space program
This mid-June 2023, The Kone Announced a breakthrough in the development of the first prototype of a tank Thunderer II- 250.
“Announced the other day is a milestone in the works thunder. The milestone was that a tank was constructed for the first time Thunderer II-250It’s an eight-foot tank, hence the name ‘250’, as the vehicles are named in diameter. Currently, after reaching the tank of this prototype, we are also working on the development of the second phase of the 250 thruster. We’re going through different prototypes that we’re testing,” Rocca said.
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“With the history of the vehicles we propose in the project, we want to take a certain risk and go in an incremental and evolutionary way,” said the engineer.
“We have the prototype today, which is the pinnacle of a path that has welding processes that have to be evaluated against a standard to be at an acceptable level. We’re going to build on that,” he said.
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The development and production of Tronador II is part of it Access to the CONAE Space Program It is built in National Spatial PlanAnd its mission is to place satellites in low orbit 600 kilometers above the earth from national territory with a fully indigenously developed launch vehicle.
It is estimated that the total investment of the national government till 2030 will be 450 million dollars. It also contemplates 9,730 million pesos for the development of a prototype and priority supporting infrastructure called TII-70.
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“Argentina has to increase the participation of companies in the space industry. But it has to happen gradually. Unlike the United States, we are still in that transition, not as mature as they or other powers with a more developed industry. We can take a risk that is not possible here today,” said the engineer. Kone.
Where will Argentina launch its rockets into space?
The Cone having different spatial headquarters: in Cordoba, Buenos Aires, Indian Point and at the base Manuel Belgrano (Inside the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base, on loan from the Navy).
He Thunderer II-70 will perform its tests on the basis of Punta Indio (in Bipinas) And this Thunderer II-150 Y Thunderer II-250They will leave the site Manuel Belgrano By the end of the decade.
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Metal prints, pioneering technology in the country
Engineer Rocca said wind what In Kone are doing Metal printsA pioneering technology in the country.
“Currently, there are two laser printers, one of which is the larger one Kone. We are currently printing the combustion chambers on a special copper and it is going well. It is pioneering and innovative. Plastic prints, 3D, are available Metal printing A powder is supplied and the laser shapes the area. It retains solid material. So interesting to say and see, no way. But there are pieces, which give us good results,” he said.
