NASA Sounding Rockets Launch Log

1959 1960
1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980
1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

INTRODUCTION

Sounding rockets are suborbital rocket vehicles that are used for upper atmospheric and space research. The term comes from the old nautical term "sound," which in this usage means remote measurement. Sailors measured the depth of the ocean by lowering a rope with regularly spaced knots to the bottom. They would then "sound off" the number of knots while hauling the rope back aboard. Likewise, sounding rockets take remote measurements of the upper atmosphere and space.

Sounding rockets are often used to investigate phenomena in the upper atmosphere between the maximum altitude of balloons (about 48 km) and the minimum altitude of satellites (about 160 km). However, some sounding rockets can reach altitudes of over 1500 km. They also carry astronomical instruments above the Earth's atmosphere and test prototype components intended for use in satellites. They are also often launched into localized phenomena such as auroral displays and solar eclipses.

Nearly all sounding rockets are simple unguided, fin-stabilized vehicles. They usually have one to four stages, although a few special-purpose vehicles have had as many as seven stages. All current sounding rockets use solid propellant rocket motors. Surplus military rocket motors from retired missiles are used in most sounding rockets (especially as boosters), as they are inexpensive and plentiful. Examples include the Hawk (Orion), Honest John (Taurus), M56 (Aries), Nike, Talos and Terrier. To further reduce the costs, the rocket payloads are frequently recovered by parachute and reused many times.

NOTES

Numbering System for Rockets

1 - Aerobee 100	21 - Black Brant VC
2 - Arcon	22 - Black Brant IIIB
3 - Nike-Asp	23 - Astrobee D
4 - Aerobee 150/150A	24 - Aries
5 - Iris	25 - Astrobee F
6 - Aerobee 300	26 - Aerobee 200
7 - Argo E-5	27 - Nike-Black Brant V
8 - Argo D-4 Javelin	28 - Nike-Malemute
9 - Skylark	29 - Terrier-Malemute
10 - Nike-Cajun	30 - Hawk (Orion)
11 - Argo D-8 Journeyman	31 - Nike-Hawk (Orion)
12 - Special Vehicles	32 - Nike-Javelin
13 - Aerobee 170	33 - Taurus-Orion
14 - Nike-Apache	34 - Taurus-Tomahawk
15 - Arcas	35 - Black Brant X
16 - Astrobee 1500	36 - Black Brant IX
17 - Aerobee 350	37 - Viper-Dart
18 - Nike-Tomahawk	38 - Taurus-Nike-Tomahawk
19 - Black Brant IV	39 - Black Brant XI
20 - Bullpup-Cajun	40 - Black Brant XII
	41 - Terrier-Orion

Identifying Letters for Agencies

A - Government agency other than N or D I - International
C - Industrial Corporation N - NASA center other than G or W
D - DoD U - College or university
G - Goddard D - Wallops

Identifying Letters for Disciplines

A - Aeronomy L - Planetary Atmospheres
B - Biology M - Meteorology
C - Cometary Physics P - Special Projects
E - Plasma Physics R - Radio Astronomy
G - Galactic Astronomy D - Solar Physics
H - High Energy Astrophysics D - Test and Support
I - Ionospheric Physics U - Upper Atmosphere

Firing sites

ANT Antigua
ARG Chamical, Argentina
ASC Ascension Island
ARN El Arenosillo, Spain
AUS Woomera, Australia
BRA Alcantara, Brazil
CP Cape Parry, Canada
EGL Eglin AFB, Florida
FC Fort Churchill
GRC Koruni Beach, Greece
GRN Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland
HAW Barking Sands, Hawai
IND Thumba, India
KI Kerguelen Islands
KRU Kourou, French Guiana
NOR Andoya, Norway
PAK Karachi, Pakistan
PB Point Barrow, Alaska
PFT Poker Flat, Alaska
PMR Pacific Missile Range, California
PR Camp Tortuguera, Puerto Rico
PRU Chilca, Peru
RB Resolute Bay, Canada
SDQ Salto di Quirra, Sardinia, Italy
SHIP Wallops Mobile Base, USNS Croatan
SM San Marco, Kenya
SS Siple Station, Antarctica
SWE Sweden
WFC Wallops Flight Facility
WS White Sands, New mexico
#BI Barter Island, Alaska (1970)
#CN Chikuni (1979)
#FG Fort Greely, Alaska (1971)
#FM Fox Main, Canada (1971)
#FY Fort Yukon (1984)
#KE Keweenaw, Michigan (1971)
#NZ Karikari, New Zealand (1965)
#PL Primrose Lake, Canada (1970)
#PN Fort Sherman, Panama (1970)
#RL Red Lake, Canada (1979)
#SU Coronie, Surinam (1965)

Special Vehicles

Number Date Range Results
(1) Vehicle

12.001GT 1961 May 02 WFC S/S Nike
12.003GT/GI 1964 Apr 15 WFC S/S Argo D4 Javelin
12.002GT 1964 Dec 11 WFC S/S Aerobee 350 (2. Stage Dummy)
12.005GA 1965 Mar 19 WFC S/S Nike-Tomahawk
12.006GT 1966 Sep 20 WS S/S Aerobee 150
12.007GT 1967 Sep 12 WS F/F Aerobee 150
12.009GT 1967 Oct 03 WFC F/S Arcas
12.008GT 1968 Feb 05 WFC S/S D-Region Tomahawk
12.011GM 1968 Apr 08 WFC F/F Arcas
12.010GT 1968 Apr 17 WFC S/S Arcas
12.014GT 1968 Sep 13 WS S/S Aerobee 150
12.016GT 1968 Sep 20 WFC S/S Arcas
12.013GT 1968 Oct 26 WS S/S Aerobee 150
12.004GT 1969 Feb 28 WFC S/S Black Brant IIIB
12.015GT 1969 May 01 WFC S/S Black Brant IIIB
12.012GM 1969 Jun 12 WFC S/S Arcas
12.019GM 1971 Mar 05 KRU S/S Nike-Cajun
12.022GT 1971 Jul 09 WS S/S Aerobee 170B
12.020GT 1972 Sep 26 WFC S/S Astrobee F
12.018NE 1972 Oct 15 HAW S/S Strypi 7AR
12.021GT 1974 May 08 WS F/F Astrobee F
12.026GT/IT 1975 Aug 18 WS S/S Aries
12.028WT 1975 Sep 09 WFC S/S Nike-Hawk
12.031GT 1975 Dec 16 WS S/S Nike-Tomahawk
12.029IT 1976 Jan 10 WFC S/S Black Brant VC
12.034GT 1976 Jan 15 WFC F/F Terrier-Malemute
12.032GT 1976 Jul 13 WS S/S Aerobee 170A
12.1776GT 1976 Jul 18 WFC F/F Argo D4 Javelin
12.033GT 1976 Jul 26 WS S/S Aerobee 170A
12.036GT 1976 Aug 11 WFC S/S Terrier-Malemute
12.027GT 1977 Jul 14 WS S/S Orion
12.1001WT 1977 Jul 19 WFC S/S Taurus-Orion
12.1002WT 1977 Dec 02 WFC S/S Taurus-Orion
12.1005WT 1978 Oct 31 WS S/S Taurus-Tomahawk
12.1003UE 1979 Mar 24 PFT S/S Taurus-Tomahawk
12.1004UE 1979 Apr 01 PFT S/S Taurus-Tomahawk
12.037UE 1979 Nov 13 PFT S/S Strypi
12.038GT 1981 Aug 14 WFC S/S Black Brant X
12.039WT 1983 Sep 01 WFC F/F Taurus-Nike-Tomahawk
12.040WT 1983 Dec 14 WFC S/S Taurus-Nike-Tomahawk
12.041WT 1988 Sep 30 WFC S/S Black Brant XII
12.042WT 1989 Dec 02 WFC S/S Black Brant XII
12.043WT 1989 Dec 21 WFC Honest John
12.044WT 1991 Mar 05 WFC Terrier
12.045WT 1992 Aug 27 WFC Black Brant VIIIC
12.046WT 1994 Apr 05 WFC Terrier-imp.Orion
12.047WT 1995 Jun 30 WFC ?
12.048WT 1996 Jun 10 WFC F/F Viper-3A

Number	Date	Range	Results (1)	Vehicle
12.001GT	1961 May 02	WFC	S/S	Nike
12.003GT/GI	1964 Apr 15	WFC	S/S	Argo D4 Javelin
12.002GT	1964 Dec 11	WFC	S/S	Aerobee 350 (2. Stage Dummy)
12.005GA	1965 Mar 19	WFC	S/S	Nike-Tomahawk
12.006GT	1966 Sep 20	WS	S/S	Aerobee 150
12.007GT	1967 Sep 12	WS	F/F	Aerobee 150
12.009GT	1967 Oct 03	WFC	F/S	Arcas
12.008GT	1968 Feb 05	WFC	S/S	D-Region Tomahawk
12.011GM	1968 Apr 08	WFC	F/F	Arcas
12.010GT	1968 Apr 17	WFC	S/S	Arcas
12.014GT	1968 Sep 13	WS	S/S	Aerobee 150
12.016GT	1968 Sep 20	WFC	S/S	Arcas
12.013GT	1968 Oct 26	WS	S/S	Aerobee 150
12.004GT	1969 Feb 28	WFC	S/S	Black Brant IIIB
12.015GT	1969 May 01	WFC	S/S	Black Brant IIIB
12.012GM	1969 Jun 12	WFC	S/S	Arcas
12.019GM	1971 Mar 05	KRU	S/S	Nike-Cajun
12.022GT	1971 Jul 09	WS	S/S	Aerobee 170B
12.020GT	1972 Sep 26	WFC	S/S	Astrobee F
12.018NE	1972 Oct 15	HAW	S/S	Strypi 7AR
12.021GT	1974 May 08	WS	F/F	Astrobee F
12.026GT/IT	1975 Aug 18	WS	S/S	Aries
12.028WT	1975 Sep 09	WFC	S/S	Nike-Hawk
12.031GT	1975 Dec 16	WS	S/S	Nike-Tomahawk
12.029IT	1976 Jan 10	WFC	S/S	Black Brant VC
12.034GT	1976 Jan 15	WFC	F/F	Terrier-Malemute
12.032GT	1976 Jul 13	WS	S/S	Aerobee 170A
12.1776GT	1976 Jul 18	WFC	F/F	Argo D4 Javelin
12.033GT	1976 Jul 26	WS	S/S	Aerobee 170A
12.036GT	1976 Aug 11	WFC	S/S	Terrier-Malemute
12.027GT	1977 Jul 14	WS	S/S	Orion
12.1001WT	1977 Jul 19	WFC	S/S	Taurus-Orion
12.1002WT	1977 Dec 02	WFC	S/S	Taurus-Orion
12.1005WT	1978 Oct 31	WS	S/S	Taurus-Tomahawk
12.1003UE	1979 Mar 24	PFT	S/S	Taurus-Tomahawk
12.1004UE	1979 Apr 01	PFT	S/S	Taurus-Tomahawk
12.037UE	1979 Nov 13	PFT	S/S	Strypi
12.038GT	1981 Aug 14	WFC	S/S	Black Brant X
12.039WT	1983 Sep 01	WFC	F/F	Taurus-Nike-Tomahawk
12.040WT	1983 Dec 14	WFC	S/S	Taurus-Nike-Tomahawk
12.041WT	1988 Sep 30	WFC	S/S	Black Brant XII
12.042WT	1989 Dec 02	WFC	S/S	Black Brant XII
12.043WT	1989 Dec 21	WFC		Honest John
12.044WT	1991 Mar 05	WFC		Terrier
12.045WT	1992 Aug 27	WFC		Black Brant VIIIC
12.046WT	1994 Apr 05	WFC		Terrier-imp.Orion
12.047WT	1995 Jun 30	WFC		?
12.048WT	1996 Jun 10	WFC	F/F	Viper-3A

(1) Rocket/Experiment

External Resources
NASA's Sounding Rocket Program
NASA's Sounding Rockets Motors and Vehicle Performance
NASA Sounding Rocket Project Results - Fiscal Year 1996
NASA Sounding Rocket Project Results - Fiscal Year 1997
NASA Sounding Rocket Project Results - Fiscal Year 1998
Poker Flat Research Range Main Page

Links to European Sounding Rockets Sites
European Suborbital Rockets
Andøya Rocket Range
Norwegian Space Center
Index of ESRANGE brochure
ESRANGE launches since 1991
DLR Mobile Rocket Base

Ref: #45

								1959	1960
1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970
1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000

A - Government agency other than N or D	I - International
C - Industrial Corporation	N - NASA center other than G or W
D - DoD	U - College or university
G - Goddard	D - Wallops

A - Aeronomy	L - Planetary Atmospheres
B - Biology	M - Meteorology
C - Cometary Physics	P - Special Projects
E - Plasma Physics	R - Radio Astronomy
G - Galactic Astronomy	D - Solar Physics
H - High Energy Astrophysics	D - Test and Support
I - Ionospheric Physics	U - Upper Atmosphere

ANT	Antigua
ARG	Chamical, Argentina
ASC	Ascension Island
ARN	El Arenosillo, Spain
AUS	Woomera, Australia
BRA	Alcantara, Brazil
CP	Cape Parry, Canada
EGL	Eglin AFB, Florida
FC	Fort Churchill
GRC	Koruni Beach, Greece
GRN	Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland
HAW	Barking Sands, Hawai
IND	Thumba, India
KI	Kerguelen Islands
KRU	Kourou, French Guiana
NOR	Andoya, Norway
PAK	Karachi, Pakistan
PB	Point Barrow, Alaska
PFT	Poker Flat, Alaska
PMR	Pacific Missile Range, California
PR	Camp Tortuguera, Puerto Rico
PRU	Chilca, Peru
RB	Resolute Bay, Canada
SDQ	Salto di Quirra, Sardinia, Italy
SHIP	Wallops Mobile Base, USNS Croatan
SM	San Marco, Kenya
SS	Siple Station, Antarctica
SWE	Sweden
WFC	Wallops Flight Facility
WS	White Sands, New mexico
#BI	Barter Island, Alaska (1970)
#CN	Chikuni (1979)
#FG	Fort Greely, Alaska (1971)
#FM	Fox Main, Canada (1971)
#FY	Fort Yukon (1984)
#KE	Keweenaw, Michigan (1971)
#NZ	Karikari, New Zealand (1965)
#PL	Primrose Lake, Canada (1970)
#PN	Fort Sherman, Panama (1970)
#RL	Red Lake, Canada (1979)
#SU	Coronie, Surinam (1965)