Abstract : Atlas Missile 9C, assigned as the first stage of the four-stage Atlas/Able IV lunar satellite project, was destroyed by fire and explosion during an attempted Flight Readiness Firing on 24 September 1959. The test was conducted on Complex 12, AMR, at 1012 EST. This was the last of the Series 'C' flight test articles. Installed on the missile for the test was the Aerojet second stage of the Able IV. An investigation was conducted by Convair engineering to determine the cause of the failure. After analysis of test data and recovered missile hardware, the investigation revealed the cause and established the sequence of events which resulted in the failure. The loss of the missile followed a premature cutoff of the engine after 2.136 seconds of a planned 20-second cluster firing. The automatic cutoff was preceded by unloading of the sustainer engine turbine and subsequent sustainer pump overspeed, followed by rupture of a bellows joint in the sustainer LO2 pup inlet ducting. A LO2-fed fire resulted which destroyed the missile.
Project Fire - High-speed reentry heat research program - Republic Aviation