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| Scout A - Scout A - COSPAR 1967-042 9,437 bytes. 107 x 414 pixels. |
All-solid low cost lightweight launch vehicle.
Launches: 11. Failures: 0. Success Rate: 100.00% pct. First Launch Date: 22 December 1965. Last Launch Date: 27 August 1970. LEO Payload: 122 kg. to: 185 km Orbit. Liftoff Thrust: 52,350 kgf. Total Mass: 17,850 kg. Core Diameter: 1.0 m. Total Length: 25.0 m. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 8.61 million. in 1985 unit dollars.
A study was initiated by the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory on the use of solid-fuel upper stages to achieve a payload orbit with as simple a launch vehicle as possible. This was the beginning of the Scout test-vehicle concept.
"Poor man's rocket," Scout, was jointly announced by NASA and AF. The concept of Scout originated at Langley Research Center in 1958, based upon extensive experience with staged solid-propellant rockets.
A document was issued regarding use of a Scout test vehicle to evaluate the performance of the Mercury tracking and real-time computing system. NASA Headquarters tentatively approved the plan on May 24, 1961.
The Space Task Group forwarded to NASA Headquarters the details for the Mercury-Scout instrumentation system. This mission was to check the operational effectiveness of the Mercury global tracking network.
An announcement was made that a Mercury-Scout launch would be made to verify the readiness of the world-wide Mercury Tracking network to handle further orbital flights.
An attempt was made to launch Mercury-Scout 1 (MS-1) into orbit with a communications package further to qualify the radar tracking of the Mercury global network prior to manned orbital flight. Shortly after lift-off, the launch vehicle developed erratic motions and attending high aerodynamic loads, and was destroyed by the Range Safety Officer after 43 seconds of flight. No further attempts were planned. The Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) mission and the successful Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5), flown on November 29, 1961, disclosed that the network met all requirements.
 | Scout Credit: © Mark Wade. 579 bytes. 36 x 252 pixels. |
Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).
Named as part of Transit satellite series. Actually different spacecraft for auroral and ionospheric research and not part of the navigation system.
Named as part of Transit satellite series. Actually different spacecraft for auroral and ionospheric research and not part of the navigation system.