Salto di Quirra Credit - © Mark Wade

Salto di Quirra, in southeast Sardinia near the town of Perdas de Fogu, is an inter-service missile test center operated by the Italian Air Force. It also supports sounding rocket launches and test of larger rockets in support of Italy's abandoned ballistic missile and on-and-of satellite launcher programs. Notable were three campaigns of sounding rocket launches by CRA and NASA using Nike Asps and Nike Cajuns in 1961 and 1963. The original ESRO (European Space Research Organization) conducted launches of a wide range of sounding rockets from 1964 to 1972 (Skylarks, Centaures, Beliers, Zenits, and Swiss and German programs). Alfa experimental SLBM's were launched in 1973-75. A test of a version of the Scout rocket in 1992 was unsuccessful. The site was used for 86 known major launches from 1961 to 1992.

• SL - Latitude: 39.5273 deg. Longitude: 9.6330 deg. Used by: Scout. San Lorenzo pad

1961 January 12 - 16:54 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun ISRC-RS-01 Aeronomy sodium release mission Agency: CRA/NASA. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi).

1961 April 19 - 18:37 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp ISRC-RS-02 Aeronomy mission Agency: ISRC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1961 April 20 - 03:46 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp ISRC-RS-03 Aeronomy mission Agency: ISRC. Apogee: 190 km (110 mi).

1961 April 20 - 18:39 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp ISRC-RS-04 Aeronomy mission Agency: ISRC. Apogee: 188 km (116 mi).

1961 April 20 - 18:43 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp ISRC-RS-05 Aeronomy mission Agency: ISRC. Apogee: 190 km (110 mi).

1961 September 7 - 18:17 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp ISRC-RS-06 Aeronomy mission Agency: ISRC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1961 September 8 - 04:06 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun ISRC-RS-07 Aeronomy mission Agency: ISRC. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1961 September 8 - 04:11 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun ISRC-RS-08 Aeronomy mission Agency: ISRC. Apogee: 145 km (90 mi).

1962 December 11 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun ISRC-RS-? Aeronomy mission Agency: ISRC. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1963 May 20 - Launch Vehicle: Apache. Nike Apache NASA 14.137IA Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1963 May 21 - Launch Vehicle: Apache. Nike Apache NASA 14.138IA Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1963 May 21 - Launch Vehicle: Apache. Nike Apache NASA 14.139IA Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1964 July 6 - 19:23 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C ESRO S01/1 MPE Ba-7 Aeronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 198 km (123 mi).

1964 July 8 - 19:22 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C ESRO S01/2 MPE Ba-8 Aeronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 183 km (113 mi).

1965 March 31 - 14:34 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7 . Skylark-7 S03/1 FAILURE: Failure. ESRO S03 / 1 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 45 km (27 mi).

1965 April 3 - 12:54 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7 . Skylark-7 S03/2 ESRO S03 / 2 (SE5) Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 172 km (106 mi).

1965 August 10 - 23:13 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C ESRO S05/1 Ultraviolet photometer Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 215 km (133 mi).

1965 September 30 - 04:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C ESRO S04/1 (SEO8) MPE Ba-12 / Grenades Aeronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi).

1965 October 2 - 04:22 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C ESRO S04/2 (SEO9) MPE Ba-13 / Grenades Aeronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1965 December 7 - 03:53 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. ESRO C07 / 1 Aeronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1965 December 11 - 04:05 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. ESRO C07 / 2 Aeronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 159 km (98 mi).

1965 December 14 - 12:49 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Centaure CE-6 ESRO C06 / 1 Solar x-ray mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 159 km (98 mi).

1966 June 16 - 19:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C ESRO S17/1 MPE Barium release Aeronomy / barium release mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 230 km (140 mi).

1966 June 18 - 02:35 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C ESRO S17/2 MPE Barium release Aeronomy / barium release mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 220 km (130 mi).

1966 June 20 - 19:39 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C S08/1 ESRO S08 / 1 (SK7) Aeronomy / solar ultraviolet mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 220 km (130 mi).

1966 June 28 - 02:53 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C S08/2 ESRO S08 / 2 (SK8) Aeronomy / solar ultraviolet mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 228 km (141 mi).

1966 July 8 - 19:47 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C S18/1 ESRO S18 / 1 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1966 July 13 - 19:44 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C S18/2 ESRO S18 / 2 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 240 km (140 mi).

1966 July 20 - 17:01 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. ESRO B12 / 1 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 65 km (40 mi).

1966 July 25 - Launch Vehicle: Belier. ESRO B12 / 2 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).

1966 November 26 - 19:11 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 S11/2 FAILURE: Failure. ESRO S11 / 2 (SK16) Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

1967 May 22 - 00:12 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 S11/1 ESRO S11 / 1 Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 230 km (140 mi).

1967 May 25 - 23:24 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 S05/2 ESRO S05 / 2 Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 215 km (133 mi).

1967 September 27 - 13:32 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C S26/1 ESRO S26 / 1 Ionosphere / solar x-rays mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 183 km (113 mi).

1967 October 4 - 13:23 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C S19/1 ESRO S19 / 1 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 206 km (128 mi).

1967 October 7 - 14:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C S26/2 ESRO S26 / 2 Ionosphere / solar x-rays mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 164 km (101 mi).

1967 October 10 - 14:33 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C S19/2 ESRO S19 / 2 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 204 km (126 mi).

1967 October 27 - Launch Vehicle: Micon. Test mission Agency: Schweiz. Apogee: 145 km (90 mi).

1968 May 8 - 11:47 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Centaure CE-46 ESRO C33 / 1 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 53 km (32 mi).

1968 May 14 - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Belier III 306 Test mission Agency: ESRO/CNES. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

1968 May 15 - 11:24 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Centaure CE-47 ESRO C33 / 2 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi).

1968 May 22 - 16:28 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. LV Model: Dragon 1 . Dragon D-31 FAILURE: Failure. ESRO D30 / 2 Ionosphere / solar x-rays mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi).

1968 October 7 - 21:39 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 ESRO S47/1 Ultraviolet telescope Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 208 km (129 mi).

1968 November 22 - 11:16 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 AC ESRO S41/1 Solar BCS Solar x-ray mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).

1968 December 3 - 20:38 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 ESRO S27/1 Ultraviolet telescope Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 198 km (123 mi).

1969 July 5 - 19:45 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C S38/1 ESRO S38 / 1 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1969 July 6 - 19:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 S64/1 ESRO S64 / 1 Aeronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 275 km (170 mi).

1969 July 11 - 19:42 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C S38/2 ESRO S38 / 2 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 203 km (126 mi).

1969 July 13 - 19:41 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 S64/2 ESRO S64 / 2 Aeronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 280 km (170 mi).

1969 October 24 - 05:44 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C S68/1 ESRO S68 / 1 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 184 km (114 mi).

1970 January 24 - 14:27 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 1 S56A/1 ESRO S56A / 1 Ionosphere / solar ultraviolet mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1970 February 6 - 19:42 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 2 AC S44/1 ESRO S44 / 1 Stellar ultraviolet Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 211 km (131 mi).

1970 March 22 - 02:08 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 SN5/1 FAILURE: Failure. DLR S-CR-21 Aeronomy mission Agency: DFVLR. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1970 June 22 - 14:04 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 2 S68/2 FAILURE: Failure. ESRO S68 / 2 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

1970 July 3 - 19:51 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 1 S63/2 ESRO S63 / 2 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1970 July 8 - 19:45 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 1 S63/1 ESRO S63 / 1 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 149 km (92 mi).

1970 July 23 - 13:55 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 1 S56A/2 ESRO S56A / 2 Ionosphere / solar ultraviolet mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 137 km (85 mi).

1970 July 24 - 03:26 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 1 S65/1 ESRO S65 / 1 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 125 km (77 mi).

1970 July 27 - 04:16 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 1 S65/2 ESRO S65 / 2 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 128 km (79 mi).

1970 October 13 - 00:08 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 SN5/2 DLR S-CR-22 Aeronomy mission Agency: DFVLR. Apogee: 288 km (178 mi).

1970 December 6 - 11:13 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 S69 ESRO S69 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 187 km (116 mi).

1971 February 6 - 18:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 S80/1 ESRO S80 / 1 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 222 km (137 mi).

1971 February 6 - 23:22 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 S80/2 ESRO S80 / 2 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 226 km (140 mi).

1971 February 7 - 03:45 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 S80/3 ESRO S80 / 3 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 214 km (132 mi).

1971 February 26 - 10:18 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 AC S54 FAILURE: Failure. ESRO S54 Solar x-ray mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1971 March 11 - 08:56 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 AC S55 ESRO S55 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 159 km (98 mi).

1971 March 25 - 13:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. LV Model: Skylark 7C . Skylark-7C S56B/1 FAILURE: Failure. ESRO S56B / 1 Ionosphere / solar ultraviolet / x-ray mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

1971 May 14 - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 1 S56B/2 ESRO S56B / 2 Ionosphere / solar ultraviolet / x-ray mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 190 km (110 mi).

1971 July 2 - 10:55 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 AC S73 ESRO S73 Solar X-ray/Zodiacal mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 224 km (139 mi).

1971 July 30 - Launch Vehicle: Micon. Zenit-C Zenit-Cuckoo FAILURE: Failure. ESRO Z82 / 1 Meteorites mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1971 October 20 - 09:40 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 AC S89 ESRO S89 X-ray Astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).

1971 November 16 - 00:04 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 2 AC S44/2 FAILURE: Failure. ESRO S44 / 2 Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1971 December 14 - 12:11 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 2 S82 ESRO S82/2 Meteorites mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 151 km (93 mi).

1972 February 28 - 05:54 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 AC S84 ESRO S84 Solar ultraviolet mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 242 km (150 mi).

1972 February 28 - 09:47 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 AC S90 ESRO S90 Solar ultraviolet mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 251 km (155 mi).

1972 March 24 - 23:31 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 2 S75/1 ESRO S75 / 1 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 136 km (84 mi).

1972 March 30 - 01:25 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 4 S75/2 ESRO S75 / 2 Ionosphere mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 133 km (82 mi).

1972 June 25 - 14:47 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 AC S91 ESRO S91 X-ray Astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 213 km (132 mi).

1972 November 20 - 04:54 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Skylark 3 S94 ESRO S94 X-ray Astronomy mission Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).

1973 February 1 - Launch Vehicle: Alfa. Alfa 001 Spurious? Agency: Italia. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). First test flight of Italian submarine- and ship-launched ballistic missile. Dummy second stage. Successful 57 second flight.

1974 Q4 - Launch Vehicle: Alfa. Alfa 002 Spurious? Agency: Italia. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). Second test flight of Italian submarine- and ship-launched ballistic missile. Dummy second stage.

1975 April 4 - Launch Vehicle: Alfa. Alfa 003 Spurious? Agency: Italia. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). Final test flight of Italian submarine- and ship-launched ballistic missile. Dummy second stage. Project cancelled after Italy ratified Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and decided to give up pursuit of an independent nuclear deterrent.

1975 September 8 - Launch Vehicle: Alfa. Alfa 1? Agency: Italia. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

1975 October 23 - Launch Vehicle: Alfa. Alfa 2? Agency: Italia. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).