Liquid Propellant Sounding Rockets For Upper Atmosphere Research

Sounding rockets provided the first means to carry instruments to the outermost reaches of the Earth's atmosphere. They were, indeeed, our first space vehicles. As Mr. Corliss relates in this history, in this day of satellites and deep space probes, sounding rockets remain as important to space science as ever, furnishing our most powerful means for obtaining vertical profiles of atmospheric properties. NASA continues to depend on sounding rockets for research in astronomy, meteorology, ionospheric physics, exploratory astronomy, and other disciplines.

A total of 95 Aerobee sounding rocket vehicles have been launched between September 11, 1959 through the calendar 1963. This report summarizes actual vehicle performance data compiled for Aerobee vehicle launchings during this period. Additionally, specific information pertaining to provlem areas encountered during flights, which were due to malfunction or other difficulties, is included. Other information is provided concerning general Aerobee vehicle configuration, ancilliary hardware, and performance statistics. Data is presented as reference material for reviewing vehicle performance on past experiments, and for use by all scientists interested in obtaining expected performance characteristics with Aerobee vehicles on future scientific space probes.

Sounding rockets provided the first means to carry instruments to the outermost reaches of the Earth's atmosphere. They were, indeeed, our first space vehicles. As Mr. Corliss relates in this history, in this day of satellites and deep space probes, sounding rockets remain as important to space science as ever, furnishing our most powerful means for obtaining vertical profiles of atmospheric properties. NASA continues to depend on sounding rockets for research in astronomy, meteorology, ionospheric physics, exploratory astronomy, and other disciplines.

Presents a history of rockets and rocketry that explains related scientific concepts and provides brief biographies of important individuals.

Liquid propellant rocket engines have propelled all the manned space flights, all the space vehicles flying to the planets or deep space, virtually all satellites, and the majority of medium range or intercontinental range ballistic missiles.