Nutzlastverkleidung
Nutzlastverkleidung Ariane 5, von RUAG Space, für die ESA
Dating
1996 - 2017Persons
Description
Nutzlastverkleidung Ariane 5, von RUAG Space, für die ESA. Insgesamt zwei Halbschalen.Object type
Object (three-dimensional)Geography
Place of manufacture: Zürich-Seebach und Emmen LUMaterial / Technique
Karbon- und Korkschichten aussen und Aluminiumwaben innenDimensions
542 x 1262 cm 1000 kg je HalbschaleInventory number
VHS-12206Legend
Payload fairing of an Ariane 5 rocket
Rocket parts made in Switzerland
The payload fairings of the European Ariane 5 launch vehicle and American Atlas V-500 are built by RUAG Space in Switzerland. They rank amongst the highest profile contributions made by Swiss industry to space exploration.
Payload fairings consist of two half-fairings at the front of the rocket. Their exterior is fashioned from layers of carbon and cork, while the interior features an aluminium honeycomb structure. Manufactured in Zurich-Seebach, the individual parts are assembled in Emmen like a sandwich. The half-fairings are heated in an oven to 120 degrees Celsius to bond the resins.
The fairings serve to protect sensitive payloads against the weather while the rocket is on the launch pad, as well as against damaging soundwaves during takeoff and air resistance as the rocket accelerates. Once the rocket has left Earth’s atmosphere, the fairings are jettisoned and fall into the sea.
Technical data
Main colour
braunSystematics
• Rockets
Literature
Weltraum-Spaziergang. Ein Nachmittag im Verkehrshaus der Schweiz, Autor/in: Walder, Claudia, S., Abb.: 24, Sign.: ZF 25