July 1931 - Launch Site: Raketenflugplatz. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Mirak. LV Configuration: Mirak II. -
Mirak II rocket reaches height of 500 m Nation: Germany. Apogee: 0.50 km (0.31 mi). VfR successfully fired an improved Mirak (Minimum Rakete) II rocket to height of 500 m. References: 17.
August 1931 - Launch Site: Raketenflugplatz. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Mirak. -
Mirak II / Repulsor 4 Nation: Germany. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). The perfected Repulsor has the propellant tanks close together at the centreline, to form a guide stick in the manner of Congreve's war rockets. It reaches an altitude of 1000 m, and the parachute recovery system functioned perfectly at apogee. Subsequent such 'one stick' Repulsors' will reach 1500 m altitude and 3000 m range - in fact, they are normally launched only partially-fuelled to prevent them landing outside the perimeter of the Raketenflugplatz.
References: 47.
1931 September 9 - Launch Vehicle: Schmiedl. -
First rocket-mail service. Nation: Austria. Apogee: 2.50 km (1.50 mi). Schmiedl's Post Rocket R1, with 333 letters aboard, is launched 5 km from the top of the Hochtroetsch to the town of Semriach. A month later the first return service rocket is launched at night from Semriach to Hochtroetsch. References: 17.
1931 September 25 - -
Initial French rocket experiments Nation: France. Robert Esnault-Pelterie and Jean-Claude Barre begins experiments iwth liquid propellant rocket engines under funding from the Department of War. Only three weeks later Esnault-Pelterie loses the fingers of his left hand in an explosion in the laboratory. Nevertheless he and Barre persevere.
References: 47.
1931 September 29 - Launch Vehicle: Goddard. Model: Goddard 4. -
Goddard rocket flight test Nation: USA. Apogee: 0.0550 km (0.0342 mi). Flight of Goddard liquid fuel rocket with jacket, streamline casing, remote control. Length, 9 ft 11 in.; diameter 12 in.; weight empty 37 lb; weight loaded 87.2 lb; in air 9.6 sec; height 180 ft; trajectory 'like a fish swimming upward.' References: 482.
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