Code 810: Sounding Rockets Program Office
Code 810: Sounding Rocket Technology Development
New technology efforts include a Mesospheric Sounder, a new Attitude Control System (ACS), Flight Termination System, and the assessment of several propulsion system alternatives.
Mesospheric Sounder - Mesquito
The
Mesquito, under development, is a 4.5 inch Dart propelled to
90 - 100 km with an US Army M26 Basic Multiple Launch System
Rocket (MLRS) motor, and is intended for temporal and spatial
measurements in the lower Mesosphere.
A high altitude parachute may be included, and a low cost telemetry system is also an option. Missions including multiple launches over a relatively short period of time are deemed feasible.
The non-instrumented Dart is estimated to have an interior available volume of 282.39 cubic inches. With the NSROC avionics package the experiment volume is approximately 34 cubic inches.
Image
of the Mesquito Dart Assembly.
Click image to enlarge.
.
Shown
here is a drawing of the NSROC avionics package and included
sub-systems.
Click image to enlarge.
Currently the system is under development by NSROC and SRPO. The Design Review is scheduled for January 2007, and first test-flight is anticipated to occur in the summer of 2007.
Attitude Control System (ACS)
More information coming soon.
Fligth Termination System
More information coming soon.
Assessment of propulsion alternatives
More information coming soon.
