centaurgprime

These are models of the two variants of Shuttle Centaur. On the right is Centaur G-prime, to be used for civilian (NASA) interplanetary probes launched from KSC, Florida. On the left is Centaur G, to be used for military (USAF) polar spy satellites to be launched from Vandenberg AFB, California, and GEO satellites to be launched from KSC. The Challenger disaster ended the Shuttle Centaur program: Centaur G-prime flight articles were built but never flew, and the launch complex at Vandenberg AFB was built but never used. N.B.: The Centaur G-prime model (right) is shown with its payload, an interplanetary probe (probably Galileo), whereas the Centaur G model (left) does not include a model of its payload, which would have been classified information.

Here's a link to a great article about Shuttle-Centaur: www.cleveland.com/science/index.ssf/2011/12/long-forgotte...

Links to other views of the SC-1 (Shuttle-Centaur No. 1) rollout ceremony: www.dvidshub.net/image/834252/shuttle-centaur-rollout-cer... www.dvidshub.net/image/842425/shuttle-centaur-rollout-cer... www.dvidshub.net/image/861093/shuttle-centaur-rollout-cer... Note: the last of these has been reversed and needs to be “flipped horizontal” for proper viewing.

Model of the Centaur-G Prime booster and the Ulysses probe it was originally slated to boost. After the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-099), the liquid fueled Centaur-G and Centaur-G Prime boosters would not be used aboard any Space Shuttle flights, as the risks associated with a liquid-fueled payload were deemed to be unacceptable. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_(spacecraft)

This is the longer version of Shuttle Centaur, Centaur G. It was to be used by NASA for interplanetary probes like Ulysses (pictured).

Mock-up of the Centaur-G Prime stage (a.k.a. "Shuttle Centaur") in a mock-up Space Shuttle Payload Bay. Of course, post-Challenger disaster, the Centaur-G would never fly aboard the Shuttle, but would instead be adapted for use on the Titan IV as the Centaur-T. See: arstechnica.com/science/2015/10/dispatches-from-the-death...