SP-4401 - NASA SOUNDING ROCKETS, 1958-1968: A Historical Summary

 

APPENDIX B

COMPENDIUM OF NASA SOUNDING ROCKET FIRINGS, 1959-1968

 

[85] The following tables present key information for all NASA sounding rocket flights.

Key to sounding rocket nomenclature:

Key to sounding rocket nomenclature

Sounding rocket type code

1.

Aerobee 100

2.

Arcon

3.

Nike-Asp

4.

Aerobee 150/150A

5.

Iris

6.

Aerobee 300

7.

Jason (Argo E-5)

8.

Javelin (Argo D-4)

9.

Skylark

10.

Nike-Cajun

11.

Journeyman (Argo D-8)

12.

Special projects

13.

Aerobee 170

14.

Nike-Apache

15.

Arcas

16.

Astrobee 1500

[86] 17.

Aerobee 350

18.

Nike-Tomahawk

19.

Black Brant IV

Experimenter affiliation code

A

Government agency other than NASA or the Department of Defense

C

Industrial

D

Department of Defense

G

Goddard Space Flight Center

I

International

N

NASA center other than Goddard Space Flight Center

U

College or university

Experiment code

A

Aeronomy

B

Biology

E

Particles and fields

G

Galactic astronomy

I

Ionospheric physics

N

Meteorology

P

Special projects

R

Radio astronomy

S

Solar physics

T

Test and support

Firing site abbreviations

ARG

Chamical, Argentina

ASC

Ascension Island, South Atlantic

AUS

Woomera, Australia

BRAZ

Natal, Brazil

BRAZ-A

Rio Grande Beach, Brazil

EGL

Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

FC

Fort Churchill, Canada

IND

Thumba, India

ITALY

Sardinia, Italy

NOR

Andoya, Norway

NZ

Karikari, New Zealand

PAK

Karachi, Pakistan

PB

Point Barrow, Alaska

PMR

Pacific Missile Range, Calif.

RB

Resolute Bay, Canada

SUR

Coronie, Surinam

SWE

Kronogard, Sweden

Wl

Wallops Island, Va.

WS

White Sands, N. Mex.

Affiliation abbreviations

AFCRL

Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories

AIL

Airborne Instruments Laboratory

[87] AS&E

American Science and Engineering

BRL

Ballistic Research Laboratories

BuStds

National Bureau of Standards

CRPL

Central Radio Propagation Laboratory (National Bureau of Standards)

DRTE

Canadian Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment

ESSA

Environmental Science Services Administration

GCA

Geophysics Corporation of America

GSFC

Goddard Space Flight Center

JHU

Johns Hopkins University

JPL

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

LaRC

NASA Langley Research Center

LeRC

NASA Lewis Research Center

MSC

NASA Manned Spacecraft Center

NCAR

National Center for Atmospheric Research

NOTS

Naval Ordnance Test Station

NRL

Naval Research Laboratory

NYU

New York University

SCAS

Southwest Center for Advanced Studies

 

NASA Sounding Rocket Flights

[88-103] Aeronomy.

[103-109] Particles & Fields.

[109-118] Ionospheric Physics.

[118-126] Solar Physics; Galactic Astronomy; Radio Astronomy.

[126-131] Biology; Special Projects; Test & Support.

[132-138] Meteorology.

 

 

[88-103] NASA Sounding Rocket Flights- Aeronomy

 

NASA rocket

Date

Firing site

Rocket Performance a

Affiliation/experimenter

Purpose

Overall flight result a

.

.

1959

.

.

3.13 CA

Aug. 17

WI

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

3.14 CA

Aug. 19

WI

X

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

X

3.15 CA

Nov. 18

WI

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

3.16 CA

Nov. 19

WI

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

X

3.17 CA

Nov. 20

WI

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

X

.

.

1960

.

.

4.09 GA

Apr. 29

WI

S

GSFC/Horowitz

Atmospheric composition

S

3.23 CA

May 24

WI

X

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

X

3.24 CA

May 25

WI

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

10.03 GA

June 16

WI

P

GSFC/Nordberg

Grenade

X

10.04 GA

July 9

WI

S

GSFC/Nordberg

Grenade

S

10.01 GA

July 14

WI

S

GSFC/Nordberg

Grenade

X

10.05 CA

Sept. 20

WI

S

GSFC/Nordberg

Grenade

X

10.09 UA

Nov. 2

WI

S

U. Mich./Dubin

Atmospheric composition

X

8.04 CA

Nov. 10

WI

S

Lockheed/Dubin

Ionosphere

P

4.14 GA

Nov. 15

WI

S

GSFC/Taylor

Atmospheric composition

S

10.10 UA

Nov. 16

WI

S

U. Mich./Dubin

Atmospheric composition

S

10.11 CA

Dec. 9

WI

X

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

X

10.12 CA

Dec. 9

WI

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

8.05 CA

Dec. 10

WI

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

10.06 GA

Dec. 14

WI

S

GSFC/Nordberg

Grenade

S

a S = successful; P = partially successful; X = unsuccessful

NASA rocket

Date

Firing site

Rocket Performance a

Affiliation/experimenter

Purpose

Overall flight result a

.

.

1961

.

.

10.07 GA

Feb. 14

Wl

S

GSFC/Nordberg

Grenade

S

10.08 GA

Feb. 17

Wl

P

GSFC/Nordberg

Grenade

S

10.33 GA

Apr. 5

Wl

S

GSFC/Nordberg

Grenade

P

3.05 CA

Apr. 19

Wl

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

3.06 CA

Apr. 21

Wl

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

3.07 CA

Apr. 21

Wl

X

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

X

3.08 CA

Apr. 21

Wl

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

10.34 GA

Apr. 27

Wl

X

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

X

10.02 GA

May 5

Wl

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.28 GA

May 6

Wl

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.29 GA

May 9

Wl

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

P

10.50 UA

June 6

Wl

S

U. Mich./Dubin

Atmospheric structure

S

10.56 UA

June 9

Wl

S

U. Mich./Dubin

Atmospheric composition

X

10.30 GA

July 13

Wl

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.31 GA

July 14

Wl

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.32 GA

July 20

Wl

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.35 GA

July 21

Wl

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

X

10.57 UA

July 26

Wl

S

U. Mich./Dubin

Atmospheric composition

X

8.06 CA

Sept. 13

Wl

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

8.22 CA

Sept. 13

Wl

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

3.09 CA

Sept. 16

Wl

X

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

X

3.18 CA

Sept. 16

Wl

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

10.36 GA

Sept. 16

Wl

P

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

P

10.37 GA

Sept. 17

Wl

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

X

3.19 CA

Sept. 17

Wl

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

1.08 GA

Sept. 23

FC

S

Varian/Martin

Atmospheric structure

S

1.09 GA

Sept. 30

FC

S

Varian/Martin

Atmospheric structure

S

8.23 GA

Oct. 10

Wl

S

GSFC/Taylor

Ionosphere

S

1.10 GA

Oct. 15

FC

S

Varian/Martin

Atmospheric structure

S

1.07 GA

Oct. 17

FC

S

Varian/Martin

Atmospheric structure

S

a S = successful; P = partially successful; X = unsuccessful

 

NASA rocket

Date

Firing site

Rocket Performance a

Affiliation/experimenter

Purpose

Overall flight result a

.

.

1961

.

.

1.11 GA

Nov 2

FC

S

Varian/Martin

Atmospheric structure

S

1.12 GA

Nov. 5

FC

S

Varian/Martin

Atmospheric structure

S

10.72 NA

Nov. 18

WI

S

LaRC/Hord

S

10.64 GA

Dec. 21

WI

S

U. Mich./Spencer

Atmospheric structure

S

.

.

1962

.

.

10.90 UA

Feb. 20

WI

S

U. Mich./Dubin

Atmospheric composition

S

10.100 CA

Mar. 1

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

10.38 GA

Mar. 2

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.101 CA

Mar. 2

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

10.39 GA

Mar. 2

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

4.18 GA

Mar. 19

WI

X

U. Mich./Spencer

Atmospheric structure

X

10.102 CA

Mar. 23

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

10.40 GA

Mar. 23

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.103 CA

Mar. 27

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

10.41 GA

Mar. 28

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.79 NA

Apr. 5

WI

S

LeRC/Potter

Ozone

S

10.42 GA

Apr. 17

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

3.20 CA

Apr. 17

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

5.04 GA

May 3

WI

P

GSFC/Taylor

Atmospheric structure

S

10.91 UA

May 18

WI

S

U. Mich./Dubin

Atmospheric composition

S

14.19 UA

June 6

WI

S

U. Mich./Spencer

Atmospheric structure

S

10.43 GA

June 7

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

3.21 CA

June 7

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

3.22 CA

June 7

WI

X

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

X

Rehbar 1 (Nike-Cajun)

June 7

PAK

S

GSFC/Mustafa

Sodium vapor

X

10.44 GA

June 8

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

Rehbar 2 (Nike-Cajun)

June 11

PAK

S

GSFC/Mustafa

Sodium vapor

X

K63-1 (Nike-Cajun)

Aug. 7

SWE

S

GSFC/Witt

Air sample

S

K-62-3 (Nike-Cajun)

Aug. 11

SWE

S

GSFC/Witt

Air sample

S

K-624 (Nike-Cajun)

Aug. 11

SWE

S

GSFC/Witt

Air sample

P

14.30 CA

Aug. 23

WI

P

Lockheed/Depew

Atmospheric structure

X

K-62-5 (Nike-Cajun)

Aug. 31

SWE

S

GSFC/Witt

Air sample

X

1.13 NA

Sept. 6

WS

S

JPL/Barth

Ultraviolet airglow

S

14.16 CA

Nov. 7

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium

S

10.65 GA

Nov. 16

FC

X

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

X

1.14 NA

Nov. 20

WS

X

JPL/Barth

Ultraviolet airglow

X

6.06 GA

Nov. 20

WI

S

GSFC/Brace

Thermosphere probe

S

14.17 CA

Nov.30

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

14.20 UA

Dec. 1

WI

S

U. Mich./Spencer

Atmospheric structure

S

10.45 GA

Dec. 1

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.68 GA

Dec. 1

FC

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

X

14.45 AA

Dec. 1

EGL

S

AFCRL/Dubin

Sodium vapor

X

14.46 AA

Dec. 3

EGL

S

AFCRL/Dubin

Sodium vapor

P

10.46 GA

Dec. 4

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

X

10.67 GA

Dec. 4

FC

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

14.18 CA

Dec. 5

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

P

10.47 GA

Dec. 6

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.66 GA

Dec. 6

FC

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

4.74 UA

Dec. 13

WI

X

JHU/Dubin

Airglow

X

.

.

1963

.

.

10.80 NA

Jan. 17

WI

S

LeRC/Potter

Ozone

S

4.73 UA

Jan. 29

WI

X

JHU/Dubin

Airglow

X

3.11 CA

Feb. 18

Wl

X

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

X

14.35 CA

Feb. 20

Wl

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

10.48 GA

Feb. 20

Wl

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.58 GA

Feb. 20

FC

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

14.39 CA

Feb. 21

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

10.53 GA

Feb. 28

Wl

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.59 GA

Feb. 28

FC

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.54 GA

Mar. 9

Wl

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.60 GA

Mar. 9

FC

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

14.08 UA

Mar. 28

Wl

S

U. Mich./Dubin

Atmospheric composition

S

14.09 UA

Mar. 28

Wl

S

U. Mich./Dubin

Atmospheric composition

X

6.07 GA

Apr. 18

Wl

S

U. Mich./Brace

Thermosphere probe

S

4.98 UA

May 7

Wl

S

JHU/Dubin

Airglow

S

14.110 CA

May 8

Wl

S

Lockheed/Bordeau

Massenfilter

X

10.77 IA

May 16

PAK

S

GSFC/Pakistan

Sodium vapor

X

14.140 DA

May 18

EGL

S

ARCRL-Ga. Tech.

Sodium vapor

S

14.141 DA

May 18

EGL

S

AFCRL-Ga. Tech.

Sodium vapor

S

14.137 IA

May 20

ITALY

S

Italy

Sodium vapor

S

14.138 IA

May 21

ITALY

S

Italy

Sodium vapor

S

14.139 IA

May 21

ITALY

S

Italy

Sodium vapor

S

14.13 CA

May 22

FC

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

14.14 CA

May 22

FC

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

10.130 DA

May 22

EGL

S

AFCRL-Ga. Tech.

Sodium vapor

S

14.14 CA

May 23

FC

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

14.40 CA

May 24

Wl

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

14.41 CA

May 24

Wl

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

X

14.42 CA

May 25

WI

S

GCA/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

4.75 UA

July 20

FC

X

JHU/Dubin

Airglow

X

K63-1 (Nike-Cajun)

July 27

SWE

S

SWE/Witt

Grenade

S

K63-2 (Nike-Cajun)

July 29

SWE

S

SWE/Witt

Grenade

S

K63-3 (Nike-Cajun)

Aug. I

SWE

S

SWE/Witt

Grenade

S

10.75 UA

Aug. 2

WI

S

U. Mich./Holtz

Atmospheric density

S

K634 (Nike-Cajun)

Aug. 7

SWE

S

SWE/Witt

Grenade

S

10.92 NA

Sept. 25

WI

S

LaRC

Chemical release

10.93 NA

Sept. 25

WI

S

LaRC

Chemical release

S

14.102 NA

Oct. 9

WI

S

LeRC/Potter

Chemical release

S

14.103 NA

Oct. 10

WI

S

LeRC/Potter

Chemical release

S

4.76 UA

Nov. 12

WI

S

JHU/Dubin

Airglow

S

4.85 NA

Nov. 18

WI

S

JPL/Barth

Airglow

S

14.128 IA

Nov. 21

IND

S

India/Dubin

Sodium vapor

P

14.10 UA

Nov. 26

Wl

S

U. Mich./Dubin

Atmospheric composition

S

10.131 UA

Nov. 26

WI

S

U. Mich./Dubin

Atmospheric density

S

10.55 GA

Dec. 7

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

14.21 UA

Dec. 7

Wl

S

U. Mich./Theon

Atmospheric structure

S

.

.

1964

.

.

14.129 IA

Jan. 8

IND

S

India/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

14.130 IA

Jan. 12

IND

S

India/Dubin

Sodium vapor

S

14.38 CA

Jan. 15

WI

X

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

X

14.106 CA

Jan. 15

WI

P

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

14.125 CA

Jan. 16

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

14.126 CA

Jan. 16

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

8.31 DA

Jan. 17

WI

S

NRL/Dubin

Composition;airglow

S

10.61 GA

Jan. 24

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.86 GA

Jan. 24

FC

X

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

X

6.09 GA

Jan. 29

WI

S

GSFC/Brace

Thermosphere probe

S

10.71 GA

Jan. 29

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.89 GA

Jan. 29

FC

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.81 GA

Jan. 29

ASC

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

14.22 UA

Feb. 4

ASC

S

U. Mich./Smith

Atmospheric structure

S

10.62 GA

Feb. 4

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.87 GA

Feb. 5

FC

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.63 GA

Feb. 5

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.136 GA

Feb. 13

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.82 GA

Feb. 13

ASC

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.88 GA

Feb. 13

FC

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

4.124 UA

Feb. 27

FC

P

JHU/Dubin

Aurora

S

10.137 GA

Mar. 7

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

14.134 IA

Apr. 9

PAK

S

Pakistan

Sodium vapor

X

4.86 NA

Apr. 14

WS

X

JPL

Airglow

X

14.24 UA

Apr. 15

ASC

S

U. Mich./Smith

Atmospheric structure

S

14.23 UA

Apr. 15

ASC

S

U. Mich./Smith

Atmospheric structure

S

10.142 UA

Apr. 17

WI

S

U. Mich./Dubin

Atmospheric density

S

10.73 GA

Apr. 18

FC

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

10.83 GA

Apr. 18

WI

S

GSFC/Smith

Grenade

S

4.113 GA-GI

Apr. 21

WS

X

GSFC/Aikin

Astrochemistry; ionosphere

X

14.54 DA

May 28

WS

X

AFCRL/Smith

Air sampling

X

14.49 CA

July 15

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

14.50 CA

July 15

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

14.51 CA

July 15

WI

S

GCA/Smith

Sodium vapor

S

14.52 CA

July 15

WI

S