Cirrus II Credit - Harald Lutz

Sounding rocket. Country: Germany. Status: Retired 1961.

Cirrus was a two-stage sounding rocket developed by the German Rocket Society in the late 1950's. All launches were made from Cuxhaven, and discontinued when the German government prohibited civilian rocket launches in June 1964. The propellant was developed by the DRG and fabricated at Liebenau Company for Production of Chemical Materials (GmbH zur Verwertung chemischer Erzeugnisse Liebenau).

Manufacturer: DRG. Launches: 2. Success Rate: 100.00%. First Launch Date: 1961-09-16. Last Launch Date: 1961-09-16. Launch data is: complete. Version:

Cirrus I.

Cirrus I could carry meteorological or biological payloads up to a speed of 1000 m/s and an altitude of 35 km.

Launches: 1. First Launch Date: 1961-09-16. Last Launch Date: 1961-09-16. Payload: 5.00 kg (11.00 lb). to a: 35 km altitude trajectory. Apogee: 35 km (21 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 4.980 kN (1,120 lbf). Total Mass: 24 kg (52 lb). Core Diameter: 0.15 m (0.49 ft). Total Length: 4.12 m (13.50 ft).

• Stage1: 1 x Cirrus I-2. Gross Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Motor: 1 x Cirrus I. Thrust (vac): 5.000 kN (1,124 lbf). Length: 2.00 m (6.50 ft). Diameter: 0.20 m (0.65 ft). Propellants: Solid.

• Stage2: 1 x Cirrus I-2. Gross Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Motor: 1 x Cirrus I. Thrust (vac): 5.000 kN (1,124 lbf). Length: 2.00 m (6.50 ft). Diameter: 0.20 m (0.65 ft). Propellants: Solid.

• Stage1: 1 x Cirrus II-1. Gross Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Motor: 1 x Cirrus II. Thrust (vac): 18.000 kN (4,046 lbf). Length: 2.00 m (6.50 ft). Diameter: 0.20 m (0.65 ft). Propellants: Solid.

• Stage2: 1 x Cirrus I-2. Gross Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Motor: 1 x Cirrus I. Thrust (vac): 5.000 kN (1,124 lbf). Length: 2.00 m (6.50 ft). Diameter: 0.20 m (0.65 ft). Propellants: Solid.

1961 September 16 - Cuxhaven -. Cirrus rocket reaches 50 km altitude The first Cirrus rockets are launched. Cirrus I, a two stage rocket, with each stage providing 508 kgf, reached a velocity of 750 m/s (Mach 2.5) and 35 km altitude. Cirrus II, 4.155 m long, with a thrust of 1.8 tonnes, reached 1000 m/s and an altitude of 50 km. Kumulus I and II took biological specimens aloft. Each Kumulus had a mass of 28 kg, was 3 m long, produced 508 kgf, and reached 750 m/s, Mach 2.0. Kumulus I carried the Mexican salamander Lotte to an altitude of 12 km. Lotte landed safely in the Cuxhaven flats. Kumulus II took the goldfish Max to an altitude of 15 km, but Max, enclosed in a plexiglass globe, made a hard landing.

1961 September 16 - Cuxhaven -. Test mission Agency: DRG. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

1961 September 16 - Cuxhaven -. Test mission Agency: DRG. Apogee: 35 km (21 mi).