Nike Nike was the designation of a two to four stage American sounding rocket consisting of two Nike stages and optional upper stages. These include the Hercules M5E1, M6, and X-220 solid rocket engines, the NOTS 'HPAG' solid rocket engine, and the Thiokol T-40, T-55, and 1.5KS35000 solid rocket engines.[1] Nike Nike had a payload capacity of 70kg to a 352 km altitude, and was used 19 times between 1956 and 1979.[2][3][4][5]
Specifications:[5]
- Diameter: 0.42m (1.37ft)
- Height: 11.90m (39.00ft)
- Span: 1.80m (5.90ft)
- Gross mass: 1,392kg (3,068 lb)
- Thrust: 217 kN (48,783 lbf)
Launch Date
|
Mission
|
Agency
|
Launch Complex
|
Apogee
|
7 June 1956
|
E41 model test flight
|
NASA
|
Wallops Island
|
10 km
|
23 April 1959
|
Cree III 29-2
|
USAF
|
Eglin A-15
|
12 km
|
19 June 1959
|
Cree III 30-3
|
USAF
|
Eglin A-15
|
20 km
|
10 July 1959 - 12:45 GMT
|
Cree III 31-4
|
USAF
|
Eglin A-15
|
20km
|
2 September 1959
|
Cree III 32-5
|
USAF
|
Eglin A-15
|
23km
|
22 August 1960 - 17:06 GMT
|
Cree II unknown
|
USAF
|
Eglin
|
46 km
|
21 November 1960 - 17:00 GMT
|
Cree II unknown
|
USAF
|
Eglin
|
33 km
|
1966
|
SPTV-8 Para test
|
SAND
|
Tonopah
|
4 km
|
1966
|
SPTV-9 Para test
|
SAND
|
Tonopah
|
4 km
|
15 February 1967
|
Parachute test
|
Unknown
|
Tonopah
|
4 km
|
17 November 1967
|
Parachute test
|
Unknown
|
Tonopah
|
4 km
|
12 June 1968
|
Parachute test
|
Unknown
|
Tonopah
|
4 km
|
20 May 1978 - 09:29 GMT
|
SMOKE Aeronomy release mission
|
USAF GL
|
Wallops Island
|
53 km
|
22 May 1978 - 09:27 GMT
|
SMOKE Aeronomy release mission
|
USAF GL
|
Wallops Island
|
54 km
|
13 September 1978 - 00:53 GMT
|
SMOKE Aeronomy release mission
|
USAF GL
|
Fort Churchill
|
45 km
|
13 September 1978 - 11:13 GMT
|
SMOKE Aeronomy release mission
|
USAF GL
|
Fort Churchill
|
45 km
|
23 October 1979 - 23:04 GMT
|
SMOKE Aeronomy / Chemical release mission
|
USAF GL
|
Chilca
|
50 km
|
24 October 1979 - 23:24 GMT
|
SMOKE Aeronomy / Chemical release mission
|
USAF GL
|
Chilca
|
50 km
|
29 October 1979 - 23:04 GMT
|
SMOKE Aeronomy / Chemical release mission
|
USAF GL
|
Chilca
|
50 km
|
References