Max Q Effects

[Voyager275]

I know that max q is the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure. The shuttle throttled down to prevent it from breaking up at max q. Would the same thing happen to say an atlas v?

[PB666]

I know that max q is the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure. The shuttle throttled down to prevent it from breaking up at max q. Would the same thing happen to say an atlas v?

Max Q is dependent on areodynamics approaching the speed of sound. If the Rocket has a pointy nose and fusiform shape the it prolly can, if it has a ball shape nose then it prolly can't.

[Streetwind]

The Atlas V throttles at many different points in its flight profile, actually. And it's different on a per-mission basis, depending on the configuration of the rocket, which of the two fairing types is used, the mass of the payload, the G-load tolerance of the payload, the destination orbit, and other such things.

Usually it will push somewhere between 3 and 5 G over most of its first-stage flight trajectory, throttling as required to maintain it. Whether or not it needs to hold back on that before max-Q or not, I have no knowledge.

Edited September 3, 2015 by Streetwind