West German OPHOS 1E

[The Artist]

I found this in

Rockets and Spacecraft of the World
by Michael Chester
W. W. Norton & Co. Inc. 1964

The caption with the image

OPHOS 1E, the West German design for an upper-stage craft that would use a fluorine/hydrogen propellant combination; this artist's conception shows the main rocket nozzle and the two smaller vernier rockets on either side. The high energy produced by the fluorine/hydrogen combination makes this a very advanced craft. It is intended as a third stage for the all-European space system of the future, sometimes called Black Prince and sometimes called the ELDO launch vehicle, from the first letters of European Launcher Development Organization.

 

[Michel Van]

OPHOS stans for "Optimierte Hochenergetische Stufe" (eng: Optimized Highenergetic [Rocket]stage)
and was proposed by Bölkow GMBH (other source Bölkow Entwicklungen KG)
the studies began in 1961
it had pressure fed engine with radial thrust chamber and E-D nozzle delivers 39,000N (8,800 lb) thrust.
allot parts of ASTRID (third stage of EUROPA 1/2) are used in OPHOS like attitude control system and Verntier engines

But on OPHOS 1E are many open question:
In some German Literature describe OPHOS use Liquid Hydrogen and oxygen
most text say it was proposed as third stage for ELDO EUROPA rocket

but in in Book "Dritte im Weltraum" by Herbert Erdmann
tell about proposal of OPHOS on Thor Rocket
(in the time Germany look in possibility for license to build Thor/Delta rocket by German Aerospace company's)

Other source
Flight International 15 August 1963
page 247 to 249

 

[Grey Havoc]

They may have decided to go with the fluorine/hydrogen approach when a motor using liquid hydrogen/oxygen didn't seem like it would be able to meet projected requirements. Dangerous gamble though. There are more than a few horror stories about attempts to use fluorine as a propellant or component of same.

 

[Michel Van]

They may have decided to go with the fluorine/hydrogen approach when a motor using liquid hydrogen/oxygen didn't seem like it would be able to meet projected requirements. Dangerous gamble though. There are more than a few horror stories about attempts to use fluorine as a propellant or component of same.

in beginn 1960s liquid fluorine/hydrogen was consider "the" super Fuel for the future
but in end using liquid hydrogen/oxygen was consider safer, non toxic and cheaper

 

[Nik]

I must agree with those sentiments on liquid fluorine's safety. Both it and pure HF are truly *fearful* stuff, far worse than even fuming nitric acid.


FWIW, a close friend of a former colleague lost his arm when a drop of HF penetrated his glove-box gauntlet and double gloves: The only way to save his life was prompt high amputation. Not surprisingly, there was a rapid turn-over of staff in the following weeks. René came to work for our pharmaceutical lab, where the many hazards were in a lesser league...


OT: IIRC, the collapse of Minoan civilisation on Crete following the Santorini / Thera mega-eruption seems to have been a combination of silicosis from the ash-fall, and severe fluoridosis from toxic leachant. The ghastly effects of the latter endured unto the third generation. By then, the debilitated population were a push-over for the opportunist 'Sea-Peoples' raiding South from what became Mycenaean Greece...

 

[Michel Van]

I found this on NTRS

Design studies on high-energy third stages for the European launch vehicle
by Koelle, D. E.
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19710065891_1971065891.pdf

the Paper look on
OPHOS I E (fluorine/hydrogen) pressure feed Isp Vac = 475 sec
OPHOS II E (hydrogen/oxygen) pressure feed Isp Vac = 455 sec
OPHOS III P (hydrogen/oxygen) turbopump feed Isp Vac = 462 sec