The Castor A was an Argentine sounding rocket designed in 1969 by the Instituto de Investigaciones Aeronáuticas y Espaciales (IIAE).[1][2]
The rocket featured a two-stage configuration, utilizing five Canopus II rockets (four in the first stage and one in the second).[1][2] It was capable of placing a 75 kg (165 lb) payload at a 400 km altitude.[1]
Throughout its operational lifespan, the Castor A was launched seven times.[1][3] It experienced one failure during one of its launches, thus achieving a success rate of approximately 83.3%.[1][3]
Castor was launched seven times:[1][3]
Date | Mission Type | Nation | Agency | Apogee | Launch Site |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 22, 1969 | Test mission | Argentina | IIAE | 52 km | CELPA Chamical[1][3] |
December 19, 1970 | Test mission | Argentina | IIAE | 45 km | CELPA Chamical[1][3] |
November 22, 1973 | Ion beam Ionosphere mission | Germany | MPE | 406 km | CELPA Chamical[1][3] |
September 30, 1975 | Ionosphere mission | Germany | MPE | 400 km | Vice Commodore Marambio Base, Antarctica[1][3] |
October 3, 1975 | Ionosphere mission | Germany | MPE | 400 km | Vice Commodore Marambio Base, Antarctica[1][3] |
March 21, 1979, 11:49 PM | Spread F Barium release mission | Germany | DFVLR | Failure | Chilca, Peru[1][3] |
March 22, 1979, 11:59 PM | Spread F Barium release mission | Germany | DFVLR | 268 km | Chilca, Peru[1][3] |