Military Wiki
Private A
Type experimental[1] step rocket
Place of origin Flag of the United States United States
Production history
Manufacturer GALCIT
Specifications

Propellant solid fuel
Operational
range
10 miles (16.1 km)
Maximum speed maximum:
Guidance
system
fin-stabilized[1]
Launch
platform

rail-type launcher[1]
Launch sites:

The Private was the first U.S. step rocket,[2] combining a Tiny Tim rocket and a 30AS-1000C JATO unit.[1] Tsien Hsue-shen was the JPL section leader who directed research for the Private A.[3]

The Private preceded the MGM-5 Corporal surface-to-surface missile.

Timeline for the Private (missile)[]

  • January 1943: Major General Barnes requested the Caltech group proceed[4] on the ORDCIT Project,[1] which named their first rocket Private A.[4]
  • December 1–16, 1944: Private A test launches (24) were conducted at Leach Spring on Camp Irwin.[4]
  • April 1–13, 1945: Private F (a Private A with wings)[1] test launches (17) were conducted by JPL employees[5] at Hueco Range on Ft Bliss[4] (all Private Ftest round went into a tailspin.)[1]

References and notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Bluth, John. "Malina, Frank Joseph". American National Biography Online. American National Biography. http://www.anb.org/articles/13/13-02215.html. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 

    ORDCIT Project[]

    ORDCIT was an Ordnance Corps project conducted with GALCIT (later with JPL) that developed the Private and MGM-5 Corporal missiles. Frank Malina was the ORDCIT director.

  2. "Corporal History". U.S. Army. http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/systems/corporal/welcome.html. 
  3. Perrett, Bradley (2008-01-06). "Qian Xuesen Laid Foundation For Space Rise in China". Aviation Week & Space Technology. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/aw010708p1.xml. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Ley, Willy (1951 - revised edition 1958) [1944]. Rockets, Missiles and Space Travel. New York: The Viking Press. pp. p250. 
  5. Bluth, John. "Von Karman, Malina laid the groundwork for the future JPL". JPL. http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/files/universe/un940715.txt. 

External links[]


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