Scout X-2

Scout X-2 was an American expendable launch system and sounding rocket which was flown twice in 1962. It was a four-stage rocket, based on the earlier Scout X-1, uprated first and third stages. It was a member of the Scout family of rockets.

Scout X-2
FunctionSounding rocket
Expendable launch system
ManufacturerVought
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height25 metres (82 ft)
Diameter1.01 metres (3 ft 4 in)
Mass16,440 kilograms (36,240 lb)
StagesFour
Capacity
Payload to LEO76 kilograms (168 lb)
Associated rockets
FamilyScout
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesWallops LA-3
Point Arguello LC-D
Total launches2
Successes1
Failures1
First flight1962-03-29
Last flight1962-04-26
First stage – Algol 1D
Engines1 solid
Thrust440 kilonewtons (99,000 lbf)
Burn time44 seconds
FuelSolid
Second stage – Castor 1A
Engines1 solid
Thrust286 kilonewtons (64,000 lbf)
Specific impulse247 sec
Burn time27 seconds
FuelSolid
Third stage – Antares 2A
Engines1 X-254
Thrust93 kilonewtons (21,000 lbf)
Specific impulse293 sec
Burn time36 seconds
FuelSolid
Fourth stage – Altair 1A
Engines1 X-248A
Thrust14 kilonewtons (3,100 lbf)
Specific impulse255 sec
Burn time40 seconds
FuelSolid

The Scout X-2 used an Algol 1D first stage, instead of the earlier Algol 1B used on the Scout X-1. The third stage was the Antares 2A, a more powerful version of the Antares 1A used on earlier variants of the Scout rocket. The second and fourth stages were the same as those used on the Scout X-1; a Castor 1A and an Altair 1A respectively.

The first Scout X-2 was launched on a suborbital flight at 07:27 GMT on 29 March 1962. It flew from Launch Area 3 of the Wallops Flight Facility. The flight carried plasma and aeronomy experiments to an apogee of 6,291 kilometres (3,909 mi), and was successful. The second flight, launched on 26 April, carried the Solrad 4B satellite. It failed to reach orbit. Following this launch, the Scout X-2 was replaced by the upgraded Scout X-2M.

References

    • Wade, Mark. "Scout". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
    • Krebs, Gunter. "Scout". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
    • McDowell, Jonathan. "Scout". Orbital & Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
    • Heyman, Jos; Parsch, Andreas (2007-07-09). "LTV SLV-1 Scout". Appendix 3: Space Vehicles. Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. Retrieved 2009-07-03.


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