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Encyclopedia entry

Aerobee Hi

Launch vehicle · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

American sounding rocket. Aerobee Hi was a development of the basic Aerobee with longer propellant tanks, improved materials, a better propellant fraction, and smaller fins. 9.3 m l x 0.39 m dia. The booster stage fired for 2.5 seconds and took the rocket to 270 m altitude and 820 kph. The upper stage then fired for 25 seconds, burning out at 40 km altitude travelling at 6400 kph. Thereafter the payload would coast up to 270 km altitude before falling back toward earth.

Payload: 68 kg (149 lb) to a 270 km altitude.

Country
USA
Engines
45AL-2600
Agency
Aerojet

Chronology

44 events

1955 April 21

15:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • AJ11-6 engine test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 198 km (123 mi). First launcing of USAF Aerobee-Hi sounding rocket. Rocket test, 98 kg payload. Launched at 0858 local time. Reached 198 km..

1955 June 23

12:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi. FAILURE: Failure.
  • AJ11-6 engine test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 64 km (39 mi). Rocket test, 90 kg payload. Burnt-out thrust chamber. Launched at 0540 local time. Reached 64 km..

1955 August 25

13:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi. FAILURE: Failure.
  • XRV-N-13 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi). Rocket performance test. Launched at 0600 local time. Reached 4 km..

1955 December 9

14:50 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi. FAILURE: Failure.
  • XRV-N-13 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi). Rocket performance test. Launched at 0750 local time..

1956 May 1

22:05 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi. FAILURE: Failure.
  • RV-N-13a test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi). Rocket performance test. Launched at 1505 local time. Reached 4 km..

1956 May 8

15:15 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi. FAILURE: Failure.
  • RV-N-13a test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 188 km (116 mi). Solar radiation research. Launched at 0754 local time. Reached 143.3 km..

1956 May 16

15:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi. FAILURE: Failure.
  • AJ11-6 engine test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 169 km (105 mi). Rocket test, 86 kg payload. Insufficient fin-cuff protection caused aerodynamic instability. Launched at 0840 local time. Reached 169 km..

1956 June 4

14:13 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi. FAILURE: Failure.
  • RV-N-13a test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 58 km (36 mi). Sunfollower spectrograph. Launched at 0713 local time. Reached 58 km..

1956 June 29

19:09 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • RV-N-13b Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 264 km (164 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 1200 local time. Reached 261 km..

1956 November 5

07:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi. FAILURE: Failure..
  • NRL NN3.02 Aurora mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi). Aurora, magnetic field research. Also known as IGY NN3.02. Launched at 1301 local time. Altitude not reported; possible failure..

1956 November 15

19:32 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • NRL NN3.07F Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 129 km (80 mi). Ionosphere research. Also known as IGY NN3.09. Launched at 1332 local time. Reached 119 km..

1956 November 17

16:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • NRL NN3.12 Aeronomy / chemical / solar lyra-alpha spectrometry / x-ray mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 209 km (129 mi). Atmospheric structure research. Also known as IGY NN3.12. Launched at 1048 local time. Reached 195 km..

1956 November 21

05:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • NRL NN3.17 Ionosphere / aurora mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). Air and ion composition research. Also known as IGY NN3.17. Launched at 2321 local time. Reached 255 km..

1956 December 13

21:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • AJ11-6 engine test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 193 km (119 mi). Rocket test, 80 kg payload payload. Launched at 1444 local time. Reached 193 km..

1957 April 11

16:31 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Vanguard test Satellite test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 204 km (126 mi). Vanguard test. Rocket performance, satellite instrumentation test. Launched at 0931 local time. Reached 204 km..

1957 April 30

15:10 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • RV-N-13c test / meteorites mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 289 km (179 mi). Rocket performance flight test. Launched at 0810 local time. Reached 289 km..

1957 May 3

14:04 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Sunfollower / UVS Solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 204 km (126 mi). Sunfollower spectrograph. Launched at 0704 local time. Reached 204 km..

1957 June 18

14:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • AU4.26 Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 171 km (106 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 0700 local time. Reached 171 km..

1957 June 25

14:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • AU4.27 Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 202 km (125 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 0707 local time. Reached 202 km..

1957 July 4

17:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • NRL NN3.08F Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 237 km (147 mi).

1957 July 5

05:17 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi. FAILURE: Failure.
  • NRL NN3.09F Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 16 km (9 mi).

1957 July 29

21:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • NRL NN3.13F Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).

1957 September 1

22:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Ion probe Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi).

1958 January 26

04:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • NRL NN3.03F Aeronomy/Plasma/Fields mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 180 km (110 mi).

1958 February 3

18:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • NRL NN3.10F Test / ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 138 km (85 mi).

1958 February 4

06:17 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • NRL NN3.11F Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 234 km (145 mi).

1958 February 22

02:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • NRL NN3.18F Ionosphere / aurora / x-ray mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi).

1958 February 24

07:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • NRL NN3.14F Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 207 km (128 mi).

1958 March 16

04:54 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • NRL NN3.04 Aeronomy/Fields/Ultraviolet Astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 144 km (89 mi).

1958 March 22

06:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Aeronomy/Fields/Ultraviolet Astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 168 km (104 mi).

1958 March 23

18:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Neutral gas Aurora / aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 202 km (125 mi).

1958 May 5

14:15 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 214 km (132 mi).

1958 June 4

15:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Solar extreme ultraviolet Spectrum Solar extreme ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1958 October 15

01:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Vehicle test / aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 156 km (96 mi).

1958 October 31

19:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 188 km (116 mi).

1958 November 3

16:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Composition Aeronomy / ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 211 km (131 mi).

1958 November 16

06:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Auroral/Fields/Ultraviolet Astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 163 km (101 mi).

1958 November 24

06:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Electron density Aeronomy / ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 207 km (128 mi).

1958 November 29

16:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Auroral / Ultraviolet Phot Aurora mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 202 km (125 mi).

1959 March 12

15:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Solar extreme ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).

1959 March 13

15:30 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Solar ultraviolet / solar extreme ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 170 km (100 mi).

1959 July 21

14:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • Solar ultraviolet / x-ray astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 197 km (122 mi).

1960 February 27

06:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • JHU Aurora 1 Aurora mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 117 km (72 mi).

1960 April 19

14:15 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.
  • NN3.60 Pinhole camera Solar ultraviolet / solar extreme ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 222 km (137 mi).