Launch Escape System

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Launch Escape System
Part image
Launch escape system by
Kerbodyne

Radial size Small
Cost (total) 1 000.00 Funds
(dry) 982.00 Funds
Mass (total) 1.13 t
(dry) 0.90 t
Drag 0.2-0.3
Max. Temp. 2700 K
Volume  ?
Impact Tolerance 15 m/s
Research Advanced landing.png Landing
Unlock cost 4 500 Funds
Since version 0.23.5
Part configuration part.cfg
Maximum thrust (1 atm) 666.67 kN
(vacuum) 750.00 kN
Isp (1 atm) 160 s
(vacuum) 180 s
Fuel consumption 56.65 Units of fuel/s


Thrust vectoring No
Fuel 30.0 Units of fuel
Burn time (1 atm) 0.5 s
(vacuum) 0.5 s
Testing Environments
On the surface Yes
In the ocean No
On the launchpad Yes
In the atmosphere No
Sub orbital No
In an orbit No
On an escape No
Docked No
Test by staging Yes
Manually testable No

The Launch Escape System (abbr. LES) is a tower which can be placed above a command pod to safely pull the crew off a rocket in case of an emergency. It behaves like a solid rocket booster as it is fueled by solid fuel and that it can only be activated once. Compared to other solid fuel boosters, the LES has high thrust and high efficiency. The thrust is slightly tilted to steer sideways and clear the rest of the rocket.

Due to the low amount of solid fuel it only fires for five seconds. But, because it usually only pulls itself, some accessories like parachutes and a command pod, the LES's thrust-to-weight ratio is high. For example a combination of one Mk1-2 Command Pod, for which the LES fits the best, two Mk2-R Radial-Mount Parachute and the LES itself only mass 5.38 t which results in thrust-to-weight ratio of 14 on Kerbin.

Manufacturer's description

This super heavy tower is designed to wrench the command pod up and away from a malfunctioning rocket.

Kerbodyne

Changes

0.23.5
  • Initial release

See also