VS-40 is a two-stage rocket that is stabilized aerodynamically. The first stage and second stages carry 4,200 kg and 810 kg of solid propellant, respectively. It is capable of carrying a 500 kg payload to 640 km, providing about 12 minutes of microgravity. It consists of the third and fourth stages of the Brazilian Satellite Launcher Vehicle (VLS-1), under development by IAE. Initially VS-40 was developed to test under vacuum conditions VLS-1 fourth stage, the S44 engine, made of composite material. So far, two VS-40 were launched from Brazil (1993 and 1998) and another from Norway (2012), carrying the Shefex 2 payload. The fourth VS-40 flight is expected to occur soon, carrying SARA´s 300 kg payload to an apogee of 189 km. For this flight the S44 motor will carry inert propellant.
| Stage | 1st | 2nd |
|---|---|---|
| Motor | S40 | S44 |
| Lenght (mm) | 5,680 | 1,710 |
| External Diameter (mm) | 1,007 | 1,009 |
| Propellant Mass (kg) | 4,244 | 810 |
| Structural Mass | 1,1194 | 156 |
| Average thrust in vacuum (kN) | 254 | - |
| Burning time (s) | 37 | 58 |
| Action time (s) | 50 | 62 |
| Specific Impulse in vacuum (N.s/kg) | 2,642 | 2,770 |
| Total Impulse in vacuum | 11,400 | 2,250 |
VS-40 – VEHICLES & CAMPAIGNS
VS-40 PT-01 - "Operation Santa Maria" - 04/02/1993 - Flight Qualification for the S44 engine. 760s in micro-gravity conditions.
- Payload:Reentry Satellite
- Payload mass: 197 kg
- Apogee: 250 km
- Range: 200 km
- Time of microgravity: 300s
- Launch Center: Alcantara, MA, Brazil (CLA)
- Impact point: Atlantic Ocean
VS-40 PT-02 - "Operation Livramento" - 03/21/1998 - payload VAP-1 (Fokker).
- Payload:VAP-1 (Fokker)
- Payload mass: kg
- Apogee: 250 km
- Range: 200 km
- Time of microgravity: 300s
- Launch Center: Alcantara, MA, Brazil (CLA)
- Impact point: Atlantic Ocean
VS-40M / SHEFEX II - 22/06/2012 - payload SHEFEX (Sharp Edge Flight Experiment) II.
- Payload: SHEFEX 2
- Payload mass: 707.9kg (incl. Motor adapter and fairing)
- Apogee:176 km
- Range: 800 km
- Reentry Mach number: 11
- Launch Center:ARR (Andoya Rocket Range)
- Impact point: Atlantic Ocean, off the shore of Svalbard
40M / V03 - under development - SARA (Satellite Atmospheric Reentry)
- Payload: SARA (Atmospheric Reentry Satellite)
- Payload mass:300 kg
- Apogee:189 km
- Range: 298 km
- Time of microgravity: 300s
- Launch Center:Natal, RN, Brazil (CLBI - Launch Center Barreira do Inferno)
- Impact point: Atlantic Ocean