Code 810: Sounding Rockets Program Office
Code 810: Sounding Rockets Program Office
35.037, 41.061, 41.062, & 41.063/Craven/University of Alaska 2-14-2007
All four vehicles
in the HEX 2 mission were successfully launched from Poker Flat Research
Range in Alaska on February 14, 2007. The first vehicle 41.061, a Terrier-Orion,
was launched at 09:22:01Z, followed by 35.037, a Black Brant X at 09:27:11Z,
the third and fourth vehicles, 41.063 and 41.062, both Terrier-Orions,
were launched at 09:36:11Z and 09:38:11Z, respectively.
Visit
the Mission Planning Lab (MPL) website to view a simulation of the
of the HEX mission.
Information on the HEX 2 mission
HEX 2 - Investigations
of Mesoscale Drivers for Vertical and Horizontal Winds in the High-Latitude
Lower ThermosphereThe fundamental scientific objective for this mission is, for the first time, to measure all terms in the atmospheric mass continuity equation, using a combination of rockets and various ground-based diagnostics facilities.
Four rockets will be launched to conduct this mission. All four payloads will consist of both instruments and chemical releases. The H-rocket (41.061 Terrier Orion) will be oriented to propel the payload on a near horizontal trajectory and will consist of an aft chemical section and a forward instrumented section. Three V-rockets (35.037, 41.063 and 41.062, one Black Brant X and two Terrier-Orions's) are comprised of traditional chemical release experiments with a forward instrument package.
Image above on left: 35.037 Black Brant X payload mounted on the Spin/Balancing test table at Wallops Flight Facility. Image above on right: 41.061 Terrier Orion payload on the bend test fixture at Wallops. Click images to enlarge.
Image below on left: 41.063 Terrier Orion mother payload on mass properties table for roll moment measurement. Image below on right: 41.062 Terrier Orion nosecone on the mass properties table at Wallops for pitch moment measurement. Click images to enlarge.
Link to HEX information at the Geophysical Institute/Poker Flat Research Range
