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]

Launches

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

  1. ^ "M5E1". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  2. ^ Stokes, Charles S. (January 31, 1980). "Chemical Release Payloads: Stratospheric Wind Measurement" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 9, 2019.
  3. ^ "Nike Nike". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  4. ^ Vickery, William K. (April 1963). "FIREFLY 3, SOUNDING ROCKET LAUNCHING REPORT. LAUNCH FACILITY, VEHICLES, AND DATA REDUCTION (33 VEHICLES LAUNCHED 15 OCTOBER-15 DECEMBER 1962)". Archived from the original on June 1, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Nike Nike". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
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