Sounding Rockets Developments in Spain
- Paper number
IAC-06-E4.4.05
- Author
Dr. Pedro Sanz-Aranguez, Madrid Politechnic University, Spain
- Coauthor
Dr. Julian Simon, Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aerospacial (INTA), Spain
- Year
2006
- Abstract
The sounding rockets development activities were initiated at the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aerospacial (INTA) in 1966, with the starting of the First Space Research National Plan, and were maintained until the 80´s. At that time, to acquire the required technical and technological know-how, it was decided to develop a real sounding rocket, in collaboration with the firm Bristol Aerojet Ltd. (BAJ). Banwell. UK The resulting vehicle, the INTA – 255 sounding socket, had 6 m. long, 255 mm. diameter and 300 Kg. weight. It achieved 150 Kg. apogee with 50 Kg. payload. Two prototypes were successfully launched at Arenosillo Launching Site (Huelva. Spain) in 1969 , and a third one in 1970. The INTA-255 programme, which mainly had a formative character, was continued with the development of the more powerful INTA-300 sounding rocket. Its mission was to cover the existing gap in the zone around the 300 Km. apogee, 50 Kgs. payload. A two stage, low dispersion vehicle was developed having a length of 7m. , 255 mm. diameter, 500 Kg. weight, and achieving 300 Km. apogee with 50 Kg. payload. The first launching took place also at El Arenosillo in October 1974, and other several were launched in Spain and the United Kingdom until 1981. At that time, the sounding rocket ionospheric research was decaying in favour of the more efficient satellite research activities, and that also meant the obsolescence of the INTA-300. Nevertheless, the high atmosphere collection data (winds, temperatures) still was a rocket business. In consequence a meteorological research rocket, the INTA-100, was developed. It achieved 115 Km apogee with 6 Kg. payload, weighted 70 g., measuring 4 m. long (two stages) and 100mm. diameter. The project started in 1980 and the rocket was first launched in June 1984. Launchings followed until 1992.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-E4.4.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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