Show Hercules Develops New Polaris Launch System A completely new eject launch system designed to get the Polaris missiles out of the sub and on the way to the target tar tar- get has been developed using a solid propellant rocket motor motor mo- mo tor designed and built by Her lIer- cules Powder Company Developed Devel Devel- Developed on a subcontract to the navys navy's special projects office the new eject system substitutes substitutes steam for the compressed compressed com pressed air lr system used since 1957 as the ejection method TilE THE NEW ejection system n eliminates complex valves and plumbing and the need for large and heavy beavy story stora g e flasks The small rocket motor mounted on the outside of the launching tube provides the power for the launch by passing pas pas- sing the rocket exha u s t 1 through a water chamber instantaneously in in- changing the water to live steam The steam and the cooled rocket exhaust are metered into the launch tube at the base of the missile and force the missile out of the submarine and to the surface of the water where the missiles missile's motor ignites TilE THE SMALL SJ precise motor is designe with a controlled burning rate to provide an in in- increasing creasing volume of exhaust as the missile moves up the tube thus keeping pace with the Increasing In In- creasing volume of space which must be pressurized to accomplish a successful eject Like its predecessor the compressed air system the new steam gas generator is deigned de de- with a series of devices which prevent accidental or unauthorized firing TilE TIIE NEW rocket motor which has launched both dummy dummy dum- dum my and actual missiles from the US S. S Observation h has s undergone extensive testing including safety trials such as foot 50 dr drop p tests In addition to its safety features the new motor reduces maintenance main main- requirements and since it is much simpler than the earlier system also reduces re re- duces training requirements for the launching crews TilE THE Nathan Hale is the first to utilize the new launch system and 22 new construction Polaris subs will willbe willbe be equipped with the steam steam- gas launcher Production of the solid pro rocket grains is being conducted at Hercules Hercules' N. N J plant 1 |