Castor A
Argentine sounding rocket
Function | Sounding rocket |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Instituto de Investigaciones Aeronáuticas y Espaciales (IIAE) |
Country of origin | Argentina |
Size | |
Height | 8 m (26 ft) |
Diameter | 0.69 m (2 ft 3 in) |
Stages | 2 |
Launch history | |
Launch sites | CELPA Chamical, Vice Commodore Marambio Base, Chilca |
Total launches | 7 |
Success(es) | 6 |
Failure(s) | 1 |
First flight | December 22, 1969 |
Last flight | March 22, 1979 |
stage – First Stage | |
Powered by | 4 Canopus II |
stage – Second Stage | |
Powered by | 1 Canopus II |
[edit on Wikidata] |
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]
Launches
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] |
Specifications
- Apogee: 400 km[1][2]
- Total mass: 355 kg[1][2]
- Diameter: 69 cm[1][2]
- Length: 8 m[1][2]
Images
- First Castor (CRX-01) at CELPA Chamical
- Castor launch preparations
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Castor (A)". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
- ^ a b c d e f "NTI: Country Overviews: Argentina: Missile Chronology". 2006-02-19. Archived from the original on 2006-02-19. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Castor". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
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