 | Deacon
Credit - via Andreas Parsch
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Sounding rocket. Year: 1947. Family: Deacon. Country: USA. Status: Out of production. The Deacon was an advanced solid rocket motor design cancelled at the end of World War II. In 1947 NACA began using reworked surplus motors to boost instrumented subscale aircraft models to speeds of up to Mach 4. They became a workhorse for the Agency's aerodynamic research, resulting in new production. Thousands were flown, until, by the end of the 1950's, supersonic wind tunnels took over the job. In January 1945 the Allegheny Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) began work on advanced solid propellant rocket motors under the National Defense Research Council. These would use new double-base propellants, the star-shaped internal grain layout developed by the British, and use lightweight aluminum motor cases instead of steel. A series of motors were named after religious ranks (as opposed to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's use of, military ranks for its rocket series). These included the Curate (42 mm diameter), Vicar (127 mm), and Deacon (159 mm). Further work was halted at the end of World War 2, by which time between 200 and 300 motors had been produced. However the propellant used was considered obsolete and there were no plans to use the motors in any Army missile.
However in the post-war years the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) had a requirement for a rocket to test aerodynamic models at hypersonic speeds. They found the surplus Deacon motors to be suitable to their requirements, and had ABL rework them with new motor grains. The first test flight from Wallops Island Test Station over the Atlantic was in April 1947. Ten subsequent tests took model aircraft and missile shapes up to 4480 kph. The Deacon had a 66 G acceleration and was flown singly, or clustered, and became a NACA workhorse. Once the surplus motors were used, thousands of new production motors were made by Hercules (the former ABL). The Deacon made an enormous contribution to 1950's air vehicle development - aircraft shapes tested included the Navaho, Snark, Redstone, Sparrow, Falcon, Sidewinder, F-8, F-11, F-6, F-100, F-102, F-103, F-104, and F-107.
The Deacon motor had other uses beyond aerodynamic research. It was employed during Operation Pogo to fire metalized parachutes to high altitudes for radar tracking. Navy Terrapin sounding rockets also used the Deacon motor, and Deacons were carried to high altitudes by balloons prior to firing in the Rockoon program. Manufacturer: NACA. Launches: 90. Failures: 5. Success Rate: 94.44%. First Launch Date: 1947-04-01. Last Launch Date: 1957-02-13. Launch data is: complete. Payload: 17 kg (37 lb). Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 27.000 kN (6,069 lbf). Total Mass: 93 kg (205 lb). Core Diameter: 0.16 m (0.52 ft). Total Length: 3.28 m (10.76 ft). Span: 0.51 m (1.67 ft).
Deacon Chronology 1947 Apr - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). First Deacon rocket launched at Wallops Island, which achieved a velocity of 4,200 feet per second. References: 17, 1713.
1947 Aug - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1948 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E15 Model Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1948 August 19 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Sparrow model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1948 September 24 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Convair XF-92 model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1948 December 23 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. - D3 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. References: 1713.
1949 February 2 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E15 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1949 March 28 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - XF-91 model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1949 March 29 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. - D3 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1949 March 30 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D8 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1949 Apr - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D4 Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1949 Apr - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D4 Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1949 April 21 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E17 Drag Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1949 May 24 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D4 Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1949 August 23 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D3 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1949 September 21 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - X-3 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1950 January 11 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F26 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1950 January 25 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - X-3 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1950 May 12 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - X-2 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1950 May 23 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F26 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1950 September 8 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E17 Drag Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1950 October 2 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D8 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1950 November 15 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Snark Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1950 November 16 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - X-3 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1951 March 23 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - XF4D-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1951 May 7 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E2 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1951 May 17 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - X-5 E17 model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1951 June 25 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - X-3 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1951 June 27 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - XF4D-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1951 August 2 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Boojum model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1951 August 17 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E15 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1951 September 5 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E7 model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1951 December 19 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - XF10F-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 March 5 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - XF3H-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 March 13 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - XF4D-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 March 18 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F29 ramjet test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 Apr - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Rigel Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 April 23 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. - D109/FFAR seeker Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). References: 1713.
1952 May 16 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E15 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 May 22 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F29 ramjet test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 August 6 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D-558-II model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 September 5 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Rigel Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 September 19 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D109/HPAG seeker Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 September 24 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D35 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 September 25 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. - F-100 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 Nov - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Rigel Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 November 7 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F-100 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 November 12 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - XF2Y-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 November 19 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - XF10F-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 December 12 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D109/HPAG seeker Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 December 18 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D28 model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1952 December 18 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D18 F100 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 Jan - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D35 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F-100 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 January 22 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - B-58 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 June 10 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - XF3H-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 June 18 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F29 ramjet test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 8.00 km (4.90 mi). References: 1713.
1953 July 15 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E25 model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 August 4 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Rascal Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 August 19 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F29 ramjet test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 August 19 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D18 F100 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 October 7 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F8U-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 October 26 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Pogo model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 December 2 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - X-2 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 December 16 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - X-3 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1953 December 17 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F11F-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1954 January 4 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F-104 model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1954 January 7 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F8U-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1954 February 9 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F11F-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1954 February 24 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F29 ramjet test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1954 Mar - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E17 Drag Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1954 March 19 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - XF2Y-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). First launching of a cluster of four Deacon rockets as a booster vehicle, at NACA Wallops Island. References: 17, 1713.
1954 June 3 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Inlet model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1954 June 4 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Snark Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1954 July 22 - 19:15 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Complex: FW. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Gamma Ray Astronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 86 km (53 mi). References: 1592.
1954 July 27 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. - AGARD Model 2 test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1954 August 11 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F11F-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1955 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - XF3H-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1955 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - XF3H-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1955 March 23 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - F29 ramjet test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 6.00 km (3.70 mi). References: 1713.
1955 March 28 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E39 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1955 April 21 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Turbojet study Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1955 June 20 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E5 model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1955 Oct - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - D35 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1955 October 11 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - SMOKE Aeronomy release mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA/USN. Apogee: 8.00 km (4.90 mi). References: 1713.
1955 October 11 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - SMOKE Aeronomy release mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA/USN. Apogee: 8.00 km (4.90 mi). References: 1713.
1956 February 1 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Delta-wing model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1956 February 21 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - E42 model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1956 November 27 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - AGARD Model 2 test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
1957 February 13 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. - Delta-wing model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1713.
Bibliography and Further Reading - McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
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