Arcas (rocket)
Arcas rocket diagram | |
| Function | Sounding rocket |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Atlantic Research Corp. |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 2.30 m (7 ft 7 in) |
| Diameter | 11 cm (4.3 in) |
| Mass | 34 kg (75 lb) |
| Stages | 1 |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | White Sands, Vandenberg, Fort Churchill, Point Mugu, San Nicolas, Cape Canaveral LC43, Eglin, Kronogård, Kindley, McMurdo Station, Barking Sands, CELPA (Mar Chiquita), Ascension, Birdling's Flat, Wallops Island LA2, Thumba, Barbados, Keweenaw, Thule AFB, Barreira do Inferno Launch Center, Antigua, Fort Greely, Grand Turk Island, Tartagal, Fort Sherman and Primrose Lake |
| First flight | November 4, 1958 |
| Last flight | August 9, 1991 |
| First stage | |
| Engines | SR45-AR-1 |
| Thrust | 1,490 N average thrust (40,430 N-s total impulse) |
| Burn time | 30 seconds |
| Propellant | solid |
Arcas (originally "All-Purpose Rocket for Collecting Atmospheric Soundings", also designated Big Boy Rocket or "PWN-6") was the designation of an American sounding rocket, developed by the Atlantic Research Corp. (now Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO)), Alexandria, Va.
The Arcas sounding rocket was an unguided vehicle with a diameter of 4.5 inches designed to carry payloads of 12 pounds (5.4 kg) or less to heights in excess of 200,000 feet (61,000 m) when launched from sea level. The Arcas had a maximum flight altitude of 52 kilometres (32 mi), a takeoff thrust of 1.5 kN, a takeoff weight of 34 kilograms (75 lb), and a diameter of 11 centimetres (4.3 in). The Arcas was 230 centimetres (91 in) long and had a fin span of 33 centimetres (13 in).
Including variants, it was launched at least 1,441 times between November 4, 1958, and August 9, 1991. Arcas launch sites included White Sands, Vandenberg, Fort Churchill, Point Mugu, San Nicolas, Cape Canaveral LC43, Eglin, Kronogård, Kindley, McMurdo Station, Barking Sands, CELPA (Mar Chiquita), Ascension, Birdling's Flat, Wallops Island LA2, Thumba, Barbados, Keweenaw, Thule AFB, Barreira do Inferno Launch Center, Antigua, Fort Greely, Grand Turk Island, Tartagal, Fort Sherman and Primrose Lake.