X-8 Aerobee | |
---|---|
Aerojet X-8 rocket | |
Role | Upper Atmospheric Research Vehicle, X-plane |
Manufacturer | Aerojet General |
First flight | 2 December 1949[1] |
Primary users | NACA/NASA United States Air Force United States Navy |
Number built | 108 |
Variants | Aerobee |
The Aerojet General X-8 was an unguided, spin-stabilized sounding rocket designed to launch a 150 lb (68 kg) payload to 200,000 feet (61.0 km). The X-8 was later spun off into the prolific Aerobee rocket.
Operational history[]
At launch, an 18,000 lbf (80 kN) thrust Aerojet 2.5KS18,000G solid rocket booster fired for 2.5 seconds.[2] After booster jettison, a 2,600 lbf (12 kN) thrust XASR-2 liquid fuel rocket burned for up to 40 seconds (depending on desired apogee).[2][3] The spent rocket then fell back in a ballistic arc, the payload returning to Earth via parachute. The baseline X-8 measured 20.2 ft (6.2 m) in length and measured 5.25 ft (1.6 m) across the fins. A X-8A reached a maximum altitude of 138.4 miles (222.7 km) Another reached a speed of Mach six.[2] The payloads of the X8s varied, averaging about 150 lbs.[2] There were 30 X-8s, 30 X-8As, 1 X-8B, 2 X8-Cs and 3 X-8Ds delivered to the Air Force.[2] The X-8As used a 4,000 lbf (18 kN) thrust AJ 10-25 engine.[2] The X-8B used a 2,600 lbf (12 kN) thrust XASR-2 engine.[2] The X-8Cs had 4,000 lbf (18 kN) thrust AJ 10-25s.[2] The three X-8D with 4,000 lbf (18 kN) thrust AJ 10-25, apparently were never flown.[2]
Variants[]
- X-8 - 30
- X-8A - 30
- X-8B - 1
- X-8C - 2
- X-8D - 3
Specifications (general)[]
Data from The X-Planes: X-1 to X-45[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: unmanned
- Length: 20ft 1.5in ()
- Wingspan: 5ft 3in ()
- Height: 15in ()
- Wing area: 36ft² ()
- Empty weight: 135lb ()
- Loaded weight: 1,097lb ()
- Useful load: 150-300lb ()
Performance
- Maximum speed: 3490 knots (4,020mph)
- Range: 18+nm (20+mi)
- Service ceiling: 800,000ft ()
Armament
None
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Miller, Jay (2001). "Aerojet General X-8A, X-8B, X-8C, and X-8D Aerobee". The X-Planes: X-1 to X-45. Hinckley, UK: Midland. ISBN 1-85780-109-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Miller, Jay, The X-Planes, 1988, Arlington, Texas: Aerofax,Inc., ISBN 0-517-56749-0, page 80
- ↑ "Aerojet General RM-84/PWN-2 Aerobee-Hi(and earlier Aerobee variants)". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/n-2.html. Retrieved 2015-08-14.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Aerojet X-8. |
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The original article can be found at Aerojet General X-8 and the edit history here.