Triangular metal preflight tag and ribbon removed from the Energia launch vehicle prototype rocket 11K25 (technological object No. 5S). The metal tag measures 1.25″ x 2″ and is engraved on the front and back with its part manufacturer’s ID number and the flight number: “11K25, 5C, T1505CIГ” and “54.” The attached faded red ribbon extends to approximately 5″ in length. This tag and ribbon were attached to an element of the rocket during prelaunch preparations and were removed shortly before launch. In fine condition, with expected wear and fraying from use.
Product 11K25 No. 5S technological model was used for complex testing of the operability of the units of the super-heavy lift launch Rocket Energia central unit under conditions of fire launch of oxygen-hydrogen engines.
To ensure the launch readiness of the Energia LV (11K25 No. 6SL), joint combat crews of military units and industrial enterprises performed tests. The first launch of the propulsion system of the central block was unsuccessful due to the failure of the liquid hydrogen booster pump of engine No.1; an emergency shutdown of engine No. 1, 2.58 seconds after start, prevented an explosion at the launcher of product 11K25 No. 5C, which was filled with 100 tons of liquid hydrogen and 650 tons of liquid oxygen.
After the emergency shutdown of engine No. 1, the combat crew, which had accumulated considerable experience in emergency situations during the complex exercises and previous work, successfully carried out the draining of the MCT from the tanks of the central unit of the launch vehicle.
For the first time in the practice of field tests, control test engineers, combat crew for the preparation and prevention of remote control, together with the designers of the chemical automation design bureau and specialists from the Voronezh Mechanical Plant, carried out repair and restoration work on an oxygen-hydrogen engine without removing the 11K25 No. 5C product from the starting device, which confirmed reusability of the engine, its maintainability, and the high qualification of the combat crew.
The second launch of the propulsion system of product 11K25 No. 5S was carried out with the duration of the propulsion system at 390 seconds without issue.
