Orion (rocket)
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This article is about the American sounding rocket. For the Argentinian sounding rocket, see Orión (rocket). For the spacecraft, see Orion (spacecraft). For other uses, see Orion.
Orion is the designation of a small American sounding rocket. The Orion has a length of 5.60 meters, a diameter of 0.35 m, a launch weight of 400 kg, a launch thrust of 7 kN and a ceiling of 85 kilometers. The Orion, built by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility, is also used as an upper stage of sounding rockets, usually paired with a Terrier missile as the first stage,[2][3][4] although Nike, Taurus and VS-30 rockets are also used.[5]
Quick Facts Function, Manufacturer ...
Function | sounding rocket[1] |
---|---|
Manufacturer | NASA |
Country of origin | United States |
Size | |
Height | 5.60 m |
Diameter | 0.35 m |
Mass |
|
Stages | 1 |
Launch history | |
Launch sites | Wallops, White Sands, Poker Flat, Andoya, Esrange, Barreira do Inferno |
First stage | |
Thrust | 7 kN |
Close
Two Orion versions exist:[5]
- Orion, using a Aerojet M22E8 dual-thrust motor (from the MIM-23A Hawk missile).
- Improved Orion using a Aerojet M112 dual-thrust motor (from the MIM-23B I-Hawk missile).
The sounding rocket is launched from Wallops Flight Facility, White Sands, Poker Flat Rocket Range, Andoya Rocket Range, Esrange and Barreira do Inferno.[2][6][5]