Lightweight ExoAtmospheric Projectile (LEAP) - United States ...

4)
5)
6)
a target subassembly within a nose cone;
a target bobst assist module (TBAM) using either a cold gas blowdown or a Star
13C kick ~otor; and,
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a target reentry motor (Orbus-1 rocket motor or Viper V meteorological rocket
motor).
Launch vehicle guidance is performed by an inertial navigation system. Both PMB and
target are equipped ~th a cold . gas attitude control system.
The auxiliary equipment
provides an external s~urce of electrical power to the projectile plus cryogenic cooling (LN 2 )
of projectile sensors Jntil the projectile is ejected from the PMB.
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The first flight test of the single launch-vehicle mode involves the Army LEAP. Upon
completion of the lauAch, climb, booster burnout, and target shroud release sequence, the
PMB separat..:s from ihe boos~er and deploys its target (see Figure 9). Upon separation,
the target's axial cold-kas blowdown propulsion system takes it to a higher apogee than the
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PMB. The PMB tracks the target while maintaining a target oriented alignment.
The target, containing the Viper V rocket motor, will be fired downward to achieve an 800
meters per second ( m~ s) closing velocity with the LEAP projectile. At a range of about 12
km (7 miles) from the!target the LEAP projectile is discharged from the PMB (this occurs
after target motor blimout).
The LEAP projectile then maneuvers into the target's
projected flight path, dnd impacts the target. Propulsion for the lateral divert maneuver of
the STP comes from a bum of a small quantity of liquid oxidizer (nitrogen tetroxide, N 2 0.)
and fuel (hydrazine, N~.) a maximum of 833 grams of N 2 0 4 , and a maximum of 504 grams
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of Njl. or MMH. U~on LEAP impact with the target, both are destroyed; however, the
PMB and its instrumetitation are recovered by parachute. All debris from the experiment
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is projected to fall within the dispersion area illustrated in Figure 7 A
A second flight test inlhis mode (single launch vehicle) ;nvolves an experimental Uumept
with the same parameiers as the first flight except as described below. The launch vehicle
will pia:" an AU F o