RTV-G-4 Bumper

Bumper
Bumper 5, launched February 24, 1949
Function Sounding rocket
Manufacturer Army Ballistic Missile Agency
Country of origin Germany/United States
Size
Height 62 feet (19 m)
Diameter 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m)
Launch history
Status Retired
Launch sites
Total launches 8
First flight May 13, 1948
Last flight July 29, 1950

The RTV-G-4 Bumper was a sounding rocket built by the United States. It was a combination of the German V-2 rocket and the WAC Corporal sounding rocket and was used to study problems pertaining to two-stage high-speed rockets. Eight rockets were launched during the Bumper program between May 13, 1948, to July 29, 1950.[1] While the first six flights were conducted at the White Sands Missile Range, the seventh launch, Bumper 8 on July 24, 1950, was the first rocket launched from Cape Canaveral.[2]

Bumper program

The Bumper program was conceived in July 1946 by Colonel Holger N. Toftoy.[3] It was inaugurated on June 20, 1947, to:

  • Investigate launching techniques for a two-stage missile and separation of the two stages at high velocity.
  • Conduct limited investigation of high-speed high-altitude phenomena.
  • Attain record-setting velocities and altitudes.

Overall responsibility for the Bumper program was given to the General Electric Company and was included in the Hermes project. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory was assigned to perform the theoretical investigations required, design the second stage, and create the basic design of the separation system. The Douglas Aircraft Company was assigned to fabricate the second stage, and do detailed design and fabrication of the special V-2 rocket parts required.

Six Bumper launches, as well as other V-2 test launches, were from White Sands Proving Grounds. In 1949, the Joint Long Range Proving Ground was established at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on the east coast of Florida. The July 24, 1950, Bumper 8 launch was the first of hundreds of launches from "the Cape".[2]

Launch history

Rocket numberTimeLaunch sitePadMaximum altitudeRemarks
1948
Bumper 1May 13, 1948White SandsPad 33127.3 km (79.1 mi)Premature cut-off of WAC 2nd stage.
Bumper 2August 19, 1948White SandsPad 3313.4 km (8.3 mi)First stage failed due to propellant flow interruption.
Bumper 3September 30, 1948White SandsPad 33150.3 km (93.4 mi)WAC stage failed.
Bumper 4November 1, 1948White SandsPad 334.8 km (3.0 mi)Explosion in tail of V-2.
1949
Bumper 5February 24, 1949White SandsPad 33393 km (244 mi)Successful flight. Separation of stages at 32.2 km (20.0 mi).
Bumper 6April 21, 1949White SandsPad 3349.9 km (31.0 mi)Premature V-2 cut-off; WAC stage failed to fire.
1950
Bumper 8July 24, 1950Cape CanaveralPad 316.1 km (10.0 mi)Low-angle atmospheric flight over 320 km (200 mi) range. First rocket launch from Cape Canaveral.
Bumper 7July 29, 1950Cape Canaveral16.1 km (10.0 mi)Low-angle atmospheric flight over 320 km (200 mi) range.
Launch of Bumper 2 (Note: This image is also used in the article on Cape Canaveral Pad 3, but in that article it is labeled as the launch of Bumper 8)

References

  1. ↑ "Bumper Project". White Sands History - Fact Sheets and Articles. US Army. Archived from the original on 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  2. 1 2 "A Brief History of Rocketry". History of Manned Spaceflight. Merritt Island, Florida: Kennedy Space Center. 2000-08-24. Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  3. ↑ "Biographies of Aerospace Officials and Policymakers, T-Z". NASA History Division. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
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