VLS-I

The VLS-I (Portuguese:Veículo Lançador de Satélites) Lancer is the Galbadian Space Agency's main Expendable satellite launch vehicle family, which flew first time in 1998. It was developed by NASDAG in order to give Galbadia a capability to launch larger satellites. It was the first two-stage liquid-fuelled rocket Galbadia made using only technologies developed domestically, currently is operated by NASDAG sucessor the Galbadia Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Background
The Lancer was developed under the following policies, according to a NASDAG:


 * Develop the launch vehicle with Galbadian space technology.
 * Reduce both development period and costs by utilizing developed technologies as much as possible.
 * Develop a vehicle which can be launched from the existing Zymylpathian Mountains Space Center and Volna Island Research Center.
 * Use design criteria which allows sufficient performance for both the main systems and subsystems. Ensure that development will be carried out properly, and safety is taken into account.



Payloads
The Lancer is Galbadia's primary expendable launch system family. The MK-1 spacecraft and Explorer lunar orbiters are also launched on the Lancer rockets. The maximum payload for LEO is 9,000 kg (Lancer-A), the maximum payload for GTO is 3,500 kg (Lancer-A). The next generation rocket – VLS-II Javelin variants offer more payload.

On 15 October 2003, a Lancer-B launched ICARUS-5, Galbadia's first human spaceflight. It has since launched the ICARUS-6, ICARUS-7, ICARUS-9, and ICARUS-10 missions into orbit.

Lancer-B Differences
Externally, the rocket is a little different from the Lancer-A from which it was derived. Most of the changes are redundant systems to improve safety, although there are some structural modifications which allow the rocket to support the heavier fairing required by the MK-I capsule. The rocket is also capable of lifting heavier payloads with the addition of bigger boosters to the first stage. The rocket also has an "advanced fault monitoring and diagnosis system to help the astronauts escape in time of emergency", and is the first Galbadia made rocket to be assembled and rolled out to its launch site vertically

Propellants
Lancer-I's 1st stage uses three spin-stabilized Rockomax BACC Solid Fuel Booster, and its upper stage uses a LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine, using Liquid hydrogen (LH2) as the fuel and Liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer. Lancer-II, 1st stage uses three S1 SRB-KD25K Solid Rocket Booster, and its upper stage uses a LV-T45 Liquid Fuel Engine, using Liquid hydrogen (LH2) as the fuel and Liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer. The new generation the Javelin rocket family, and its derivations will use LOX and kerosene on core stage and strapon boosters, and LV-T45 Liquid Fuel booster, with LOX and LH2 in upper stages.

Origins
The Lancer rockets is derived from earlier Galbadia 2-stage intermediate-range ballistic missile IRBM S-4, or Shark 4 missile. However, like its counterparts in both the United States and in Russia, the differing needs of space rockets and strategic missiles have caused the development of space rockets and missiles to diverge. The main goal of a space rocket is to maximize payload, while for strategic missiles increased throw weight is much less important than the ability to launch quickly and to survive a first strike. This divergence has become clear in the next generation rocket Javelin, which use cryogenic propellants in sharp contrast to the next generation of strategic missiles, which are mobile and solid fuelled.