# Capricornio

> cancelled Spanish launch vehicle

**Wikidata**: [Q2252329](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2252329)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capricornio_(rocket))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/capricornio

## Summary
Capricornio was a cancelled Spanish launch vehicle designed as a three-stage-to-orbit expendable rocket. Developed by the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial Esteban Terradas (INTA), the program was active from 1990 until it was dissolved in 2000.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** It is an instance of a rocket model and an abandoned project, classified as a three-stage-to-orbit expendable launch vehicle.
- **Developer:** The rocket was developed and manufactured by the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial Esteban Terradas (INTA).
- **Origin:** It was a launch vehicle of Spanish origin.
- **Timeline:** The project had its inception in 1990 and was dissolved, abolished, or demolished in 2000.
- **Dimensions:** The vehicle had a height of 18.25 meters and a diameter of 1.0 meter.
- **Mass:** The gross weight of the rocket was 15,035 kilograms.
- **Payload:** It was designed to carry a payload mass of 140 kilograms.
- **Launch Site:** The planned start point for launches was the El Hierro Launch Centre.
- **Predecessors:** The Capricornio program developed from earlier projects, specifically the INTA-100 and INTA-300.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of launch vehicle was the Capricornio?
A: The Capricornio was a three-stage-to-orbit expendable launch vehicle, meaning it was designed for single use to carry payloads into outer space.

### Q: Who was responsible for the development of the Capricornio rocket?
A: The Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial Esteban Terradas (INTA) served as both the developer and manufacturer of the vehicle.

### Q: What was the intended purpose or capability of the Capricornio?
A: The rocket was designed to carry a payload of 140 kilograms into orbit, launching from the El Hierro Launch Centre in Spain.

### Q: What is the historical lineage of the Capricornio project?
A: The project began in 1990 and evolved from previous INTA projects, specifically the INTA-100 and INTA-300 models, before being cancelled in 2000.

## Why It Matters
The Capricornio program represents a significant, though ultimately unrealized, effort by Spain to develop independent orbital launch capabilities. As a three-stage-to-orbit expendable launch vehicle, it was intended to provide the country with the capacity to transport payloads into outer space without reliance on international partners. The project highlights the trajectory of the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial Esteban Terradas (INTA) in advancing rocket technology, bridging the gap between earlier experimental models like the INTA-100 and INTA-300 and more ambitious orbital aspirations. Although the program was cancelled in 2000, its development history and specifications provide insight into the engineering challenges and national goals of Spain's aerospace sector during the 1990s.

## Notable For
- **National Ambition:** It is notable as a distinct Spanish effort to create an indigenous orbital launch vehicle, distinguishing it from the many launch systems developed by major spacefaring nations like the US, Russia, or the European Union.
- **Technical Lineage:** The rocket is a notable evolution in INTA's rocketry program, developing directly from the INTA-100 and INTA-300 platforms.
- **Specific Design:** It is distinguished by its specific configuration as a three-stage-to-orbit vehicle with a solid fuel background implied by its lineage, designed for a specific payload capacity of 140 kg.
- **Launch Location:** The project is unique for its designated launch site at the El Hierro Launch Centre, reflecting specific geographical planning for space access.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
The Capricornio is defined as a cancelled Spanish launch vehicle. Structurally, it is classified as an instance of a "rocket model" and an "abandoned project." Within the hierarchy of aerospace technology, it is a subclass of an "expendable launch vehicle," a category of space launch vehicles designed to be used only once and expended after use. Specifically, the Capricornio was designed as a "three-stage-to-orbit" vehicle, a configuration intended to efficiently propel payloads into orbit by shedding stages sequentially.

### Development and Cancellation
The development of the Capricornio was managed by the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial Esteban Terradas (INTA), which acted as both the developer and manufacturer. The program officially began in 1990. It was part of a progression of Spanish rocketry, developing from two earlier INTA models: the INTA-100 and the INTA-300. Despite these efforts, the program did not reach fruition; the project was dissolved, abolished, or demolished in 2000, leaving the Capricornio as an abandoned project in the history of space exploration.

### Technical Specifications
The Capricornio featured distinct physical and performance characteristics:
- **Height:** The vehicle stood 18.25 meters tall.
- **Diameter:** It had a diameter of 1.0 meter.
- **Mass:** The gross weight of the vehicle was 15,035 kilograms.
- **Payload Capacity:** It was engineered to carry a payload mass of 140 kilograms.

### Launch Infrastructure
The operational plan for the Capricornio designated the El Hierro Launch Centre as its start point. This location was selected to facilitate the launch of the vehicle into outer space, serving as the ground infrastructure for the intended missions.

### International Context
As an expendable launch vehicle, the Capricornio belongs to a broad class of launch vehicles that are expended after use. This class is the functional opposite of reusable launch vehicles. While the Capricornio was a specific Spanish initiative, the broader category of expendable launch vehicles includes numerous international rocket families such as the European Ariane, the Russian/Soviet Proton and R-7, and the American Atlas and Thor. The Capricornio's cancellation places it among other specialized or canceled programs globally, such as the American Ares I or the air-launched Pegasus, though the Capricornio remains distinct in its Spanish origin and specific technical lineage.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013