Rockair

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Rockair (or "Rockaire")
Deacon rocket suspended from a balloon as a part of a Rockoon lanch
A Deacon rocket, in this case being used as a Rockoon. The Rockoon concept later succeeded the Rockair, however, note that no balloon was involved in Rockair launches.
Mission typeResearch
OperatorUnited States Navy and Air Force
Mission duration491 days
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerNorth American Aviation and Allegany Ballistics Laboratory
 

The Rockair was first suggested by Hermann Oberth in his 1929 book Wege zur Raumschiffahrt.[1] Rockair concepts were developed by both the United States Air Force and Navy, both generally finding marginal use in the concept.[1] The Air Force began studying the concept of an air-launched sounding rocket in 1947, while the Navy managed to get the first launch in August 16, 1955 using an F2H2 off of Wallops Island. The folded-fin aerial rocket(FFAR)[1][2] reached an altitude of 54,864m (180,000 ft). The Air Force followed up with their first air-launched sounding rocket concept on December 13, 1956, under the name "Rockaire".[3] A Deacon rocket was used, launched from a F-86 fighter aircraft.

The Navy Rockair had a total of 5 launches, while the Air Force Rockaire had a total of 4 for a combined 9 launches.

According to a NASA historical summary,[1] no important scientific research was every carried out with the Rockair concept. It had very little popularity, in contrast to the "Rockoon" which was launched in the hundreds during the 1950s.

Launch History of the Rockair[edit]

Date Launch Site Rocket Launch Platform Apogee
August 16, 1955 NAOTS FFAR F2H2 50km(31mi)
August 16, 1955 NAOTS FFAR F2H2 55km(34mi)
August 16, 1955 NAOTS FFAR F2H2 9km(5.5mi)
November 1, 1955 NAOTS FFAR F2H2 50km(31mi)
November 1, 1955 NAOTS FFAR F2H2 50km(31mi)

Launch History of the Rockaire[edit]

Date Launch Site Rocket Launch Platform Apogee
December 13, 1956 Holloman Deacon F-86D 44km(27mi)
December 14, 1956 Holloman Deacon F-86D 42km(26mi)
December 17, 1956 Holloman Deacon F-86D 43km(26mi)
December 19, 1956 Holloman Deacon F-86D 45km(27mi)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Corliss, William (1971). "NASA Sounding Rockets, 1958-1968, A Historical Summary" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  2. ^ "FFAR". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  3. ^ "Rockaire". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-03-02.