 Sparoair II on F4D | |
| Function | Sounding rocket |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Naval Missile Center |
| Country of origin | USA |
| Size | |
| Height | 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in) |
| Diameter | 200 mm (8 in) |
| Mass | 143 kg (315 lb) |
| Stages | Two |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to 120 km (65 nmi) |
18 kg (40 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | Point Mugu |
| First flight | 1960 |
| Last flight | July 8, 1965 |
Sparoair was a family of air-launched sounding rockets developed by the United States Navy in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Based on the Sparrow air-to-air missile, three versions of the rocket were developed; although some launches were successful, the system did not enter operational service.
Sparoair I and II[]
Sparoair was developed by the Naval Missile Center, as a two-stage development of the Sparrow III air-to-air missile.[1][2] Propelled by two Sparrow rocket motors mounted in tandem,[3] the Sparoair could be launched from F3H (F-3) Demon and F4D (F-6) Skyray fighter aircraft, and was capable of lifting a 40 pounds (18 kg) payload to an apogee of 65 nautical miles (120 km; 75 mi).[2][4]
The Sparoair I was the original version of the rocket, launched using an ejection system and a lanyard for firing; after that proved unreliable in flight testing, the Sparoair II was developed that utilised a rail launch with ignition prior to release from the aircraft.[1] Eight launches of Sparoair II vehicles had been conducted by 1961.[1] Each Sparoair II rocket cost USD$6,000.[2]
Sparoair III[]
Sparoair III utilised a redesigned second-stage motor, and could be launched from the F-4 Phantom II; however, any aircraft capable of launching the Sparrow III AAM could launch the Sparoair.[1]
The Sparoair III utilised the aircraft's Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS) circuits to initiate launch; the second stage was ignited via a mechanical device armed by the acceleration of the first stage.[1]
The first Sparoair III was launched on July 8, 1965; it proved a partial failure as the second stage failed to ignite. The second launch on 26 May 1966 failed after six seconds of second-stage burn when the vehicle exploded.[1] No further launches were undertaken.[5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Bolster, W.J.; G. C. Googins (1969). "Design, Development and Testing of a Series of Air-Launched Sounding Rockets". American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. pp. 460–465. Bibcode 1969JSpRo...6..460B. Digital object identifier:10.2514/3.29679. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:IyqllSuvnZIJ:ftp://124.42.15.59/ck/2011-04/165/032/874/240/Design,%2520development,%2520and%2520testing%2520of%2520a%2520series%2520of%2520air-launched%2520sounding%2520rockets..pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgijevDEFpqL4j5TPfnH229Ieu-9WeKmDFisUxBOe2_4zZiRZxq2C01DL7CDNkVG5vuUKp9X4pwgqUgDjSlGmQP4E8uzMK6TOQYdRElRyOXD4TZ9nzUNcce5AoXVnIFyuyfbxKa&sig=AHIEtbS1jwZkZeUWKh9dX8QLa3LPsiWL7g&pli=1. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Pfeiffer, Marie (September 1962). "Rockets Probe Mysteries of Upper Air". Washington, D.C.: Navy Department. p. 19. http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1962/sep62.pdf. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ↑ Jung, Philippe, ed (1998). History of Rocketry and Astronautics: proceedings of the Twenty-seventh History Symposium of the International Academy of Astronautics. AAS History Series. 22. American Astronomical Society. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-87703-444-5.
- ↑ Missiles and Rockets , Volume 21, Part 1. American Aviation Publications. 1967. http://books.google.com/books?ei=c1vZTrCyAtKatwfE-eXsAQ&ct=result&id=ywn0AAAAMAAJ&dq=%22Sparoair%22+%22sounding+rocket%22&q=%22Sparoair%22#search_anchor. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ↑ Wade, Mark, ed. "Sparoair". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/fam/sparoair.htm. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
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The original article can be found at Sparoair and the edit history here.