User:LizArchive/Wolfram Aerospace

Wolfram Aerospace is an American public aerospace firm and research organisation based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Wolfram Aerospace develops launch vehicles, rockets and satellites.

History
Wolfram Aerospace was founded in 1986 by Thom K Henson, occupying a building in Charlotte, North Carolina. On 15 June 1998, Wolfram Aerospace went public, valuing the company at $12.2 billion dollars. 40% of shares were set to be available, with the other 60% being kept by Thom K Henson.

Atlas Programme
Initially, Wolfram Aerospace was founded as a scientific corporation focusing on building various satellites and spacecraft used for research. In order to receive funding, Wolfram Aerospace partnered with various space agencies around the world. So far, six spacecraft have been built to date.

Rockets
Wolfram Aerospace launched its first rocket programme in June 1998. Known as Tungsten-3250A (W-3250A), the expendable rocket featured three fuel cells and is one of the largest developed.

Atlas Programme
Wolfram Aerospace launched its Atlas Programme with a primary focus of exploration and research within the Solar System. Currently, six Atlas missions operate in conjunction with the National Aeronautics Space Agency (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA). The six missions operate to the five planets closest to Earth as well as an additional mission (Atlas 5) to Vesta and Ceres.

Tungsten-3250A
Wolfram Aerospace made the Tungsten-3250A (W-3250A) rocket system public knowledge in June 1998. W-3250A consists of a central and two side-mounted fuel cells.

Four testable prototypes were constructed. The first two were written off during the testing period - W-3250A-1 exploded on lift off due to a failure of the o-ring seals and W-3250A-2 exploded at V+213 seconds after the left fuel tank spontaneously exploded, causing the rocket to lose directional control and thrust. W-3250A-3 was the first successful tested launch. W-3250A-4 was the first one to carry payload.

Operations
At lift off, all three fuel cells operate at 100%. Between V+38 and V+44 seconds, the centre fuel cell gradually reduces to 55% thrust for fuel conservation. Between V+148 and V+235 seconds, the two side-mounted fuel cells reduce their thrust output from 100% to 75% gradually before running out of fuel at V+236 seconds. Simultaneously, the centre fuel cell throttles up to 100% by V+245 before gradually declining to 90% by V+320. At V+328, the centre fuel cell is exhausted of fuel.