The Alpha Draco missile, also known as Weapons System 199D (WS-199D), was an experimental ballistic missile developed by McDonnell Aircraft in the late 1950s to investigate the aerodynamic physics of the boost-glidereentry trajectory. Three test flights were conducted in 1959, of which two were successful.
As part of the WS-199 project to develop new strategic weapons for the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command, McDonnell Aircraft developed the Alpha Draco missile between 1957 and 1959, under a contract to launch three vehicles to determine the feasibility of the boost-glide reentry vehicle (BGRV) concept.[1] The purpose of the rocket was to establish whether a strategic missile using the "boost-glide" principle of propulsion could be practically used.[2] The idea had been proposed by Walter Dornberger, who had moved to McDonnell after working for a short time at Bell Aircraft. Dornberger had originally worked on the idea as part of efforts to extend the range of the V-2 missile late in World War II.[3]
The Alpha Draco missile was a two-stage vehicle, the first stage comprising a Thiokol TX-20 solid-fuel rocket of the type used in the MGM-29 Sergeanttheater ballistic missile, and the second stage using a Thiokol TX-30 solid-fuel rocket. The payload vehicle was aerodynamically shaped, using the lifting body principle to provide aerodynamic lift;[4] following burnout of the first stage, the vehicle would coast for a short time before ignition of the second stage,[2] burnout of the second stage was followed by the vehicle entering the glide phase of flight, which would be terminated by a dive upon the target.[5] The vehicle would enter a roll during its glide period to distribute aerodynamic heating. Guidance was provided by a Honeywellinertial guidance unit.[6]
Operational historyedit
Following modification of the launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 10 to include a concrete flame deflector[7] and a gantry modified from that used by the Honest John battlefield missile,[6] three test launches of the Alpha Draco vehicle were conducted during 1959.[4] The initial flight, on February 16, was successful; the second flight, one month later, also fulfilled its test goals. The final launch of the Alpha Draco on April 30, however, suffered a flight-control failure and was destroyed by range safety command.[5] With the expenditure of the third and final vehicle, the program was concluded,[2] the project's cost having come to a total of approximately $5 million USD ($54 million today).[5]
The program demonstrated that the vehicle was able to generate lift/drag ratio of 3.5 to 1, allowing it to greatly extend its range;[3] it was also the first missile to achieve hypersonic flight inside of an atmosphere.[8] Although this was not put to immediate use, the tests provided valuable data that was used for later programs like the Boost Glide Reentry Vehicle and the ASSET and PRIME programs. Better understanding of the hypersonic lift process also led to the lifting body designs of the 1960s.[3] McDonnell Aircraft proposed a development of the Alpha Draco concept for the USAF requirement that evolved into the Minuteman missile program, but the boost-glide concept was considered too immature for operational development.[9]
To be on the safe side, Minuteman silos were built deeper than required in case a boost-glide weapon would be fitted in the future. Although this never came to be, the extra depth proved invaluable as it allowed the missile to grow in length to the Minuteman III design without having to build new silos.
Brulle, Robert V. (2008). Engineering the Space Age: A Rocket Scientist Remembers. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Air University Press. ISBN978-1-58566-184-8.
Parsch, Andreas (1 November 2005). "WS-199". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. designation-systems.net. from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
Yengst, William (2010). Lightning Bolts: First Manuevering [sic] Reentry Vehicles. Mustang, OK: Tate Publishing & Enterprises. ISBN978-1-61566-547-1.
Yenne, Bill (2005). Secret Gadgets and Strange Gizmos: High-Tech (and Low-Tech) Innovations of the U.S. Military. St. Paul, MN: Zenith Press. ISBN978-0-7603-2115-7.
External linksedit
Media related to Alpha Draco at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
alpha, draco, star, thuban, missile, also, known, weapons, system, 199d, 199d, experimental, ballistic, missile, developed, mcdonnell, aircraft, late, 1950s, investigate, aerodynamic, physics, boost, glide, reentry, trajectory, three, test, flights, were, cond. For the star Alpha Draconis see Thuban The Alpha Draco missile also known as Weapons System 199D WS 199D was an experimental ballistic missile developed by McDonnell Aircraft in the late 1950s to investigate the aerodynamic physics of the boost glide reentry trajectory Three test flights were conducted in 1959 of which two were successful Alpha DracoThe Alpha Draco test vehicleTypeExperimental ballistic missilePlace of originUnited StatesService historyIn service1959Used byUnited States Air ForceProduction historyDesigned1957 1958ManufacturerMcDonnellNo built3SpecificationsLength46 1 feet 14 05 m Diameter31 inches 790 mm Wingspan7 1 feet 2 16 m EngineFirst stage Thiokol TX 2050 000 lbf 222 kN Second stage Thiokol TX 3012 300 lbf 54 8 kN PropellantSolid fuelOperationalrange240 miles 390 km Flight ceiling100 000 feet 30 000 m Maximum speedMach 5 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Launch history 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDesign and development editAs part of the WS 199 project to develop new strategic weapons for the United States Air Force s Strategic Air Command McDonnell Aircraft developed the Alpha Draco missile between 1957 and 1959 under a contract to launch three vehicles to determine the feasibility of the boost glide reentry vehicle BGRV concept 1 The purpose of the rocket was to establish whether a strategic missile using the boost glide principle of propulsion could be practically used 2 The idea had been proposed by Walter Dornberger who had moved to McDonnell after working for a short time at Bell Aircraft Dornberger had originally worked on the idea as part of efforts to extend the range of the V 2 missile late in World War II 3 The Alpha Draco missile was a two stage vehicle the first stage comprising a Thiokol TX 20 solid fuel rocket of the type used in the MGM 29 Sergeant theater ballistic missile and the second stage using a Thiokol TX 30 solid fuel rocket The payload vehicle was aerodynamically shaped using the lifting body principle to provide aerodynamic lift 4 following burnout of the first stage the vehicle would coast for a short time before ignition of the second stage 2 burnout of the second stage was followed by the vehicle entering the glide phase of flight which would be terminated by a dive upon the target 5 The vehicle would enter a roll during its glide period to distribute aerodynamic heating Guidance was provided by a Honeywell inertial guidance unit 6 Operational history editFollowing modification of the launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station s Launch Complex 10 to include a concrete flame deflector 7 and a gantry modified from that used by the Honest John battlefield missile 6 three test launches of the Alpha Draco vehicle were conducted during 1959 4 The initial flight on February 16 was successful the second flight one month later also fulfilled its test goals The final launch of the Alpha Draco on April 30 however suffered a flight control failure and was destroyed by range safety command 5 With the expenditure of the third and final vehicle the program was concluded 2 the project s cost having come to a total of approximately 5 million USD 54 million today 5 The program demonstrated that the vehicle was able to generate lift drag ratio of 3 5 to 1 allowing it to greatly extend its range 3 it was also the first missile to achieve hypersonic flight inside of an atmosphere 8 Although this was not put to immediate use the tests provided valuable data that was used for later programs like the Boost Glide Reentry Vehicle and the ASSET and PRIME programs Better understanding of the hypersonic lift process also led to the lifting body designs of the 1960s 3 McDonnell Aircraft proposed a development of the Alpha Draco concept for the USAF requirement that evolved into the Minuteman missile program but the boost glide concept was considered too immature for operational development 9 To be on the safe side Minuteman silos were built deeper than required in case a boost glide weapon would be fitted in the future Although this never came to be the extra depth proved invaluable as it allowed the missile to grow in length to the Minuteman III design without having to build new silos Launch history editDate Time GMT Launch site Outcome Remarks 10 1959 02 16 Launch Complex 10 Success Apogee 30 kilometres 19 mi impact 224 nautical miles 415 km 258 mi downrange 11 1959 03 16 Launch Complex 10 Success Apogee 30 kilometres 19 mi impact 212 nautical miles 393 km 244 mi downrange 8 1959 04 27 Launch Complex 10 Failure Destroyed due to flight path excursion following second stage ignition 8 See also editBoeing X 20 Dyna Soar Related development Bold Orion High Virgo Comparable weapons Avangard DF ZF HTV 2 HGV 202F 14 XReferences editNotes Brulle 2008 p 89 a b c Parsch 2005 a b c Yengst 2010 p 33 a b Yenne 2005 p 67 a b c Yengst 2010 pp 38 39 a b Brulle 2008 p 94 Launch Complexes 9 10 Air Force Space amp Missile Museum Archived from the original on 2017 11 30 Retrieved 2017 11 30 a b c Brulle 2008 p 105 Brulle 2008 p 106 Draco Encyclopedia Astronautica Archived from the original on 2011 10 11 Retrieved 2011 01 19 Brulle 2008 p 101 Bibliography Brulle Robert V 2008 Engineering the Space Age A Rocket Scientist Remembers Maxwell AFB Alabama Air University Press ISBN 978 1 58566 184 8 Parsch Andreas 1 November 2005 WS 199 Directory of U S Military Rockets and Missiles designation systems net Archived from the original on 15 December 2010 Retrieved 20 January 2015 Yengst William 2010 Lightning Bolts First Manuevering sic Reentry Vehicles Mustang OK Tate Publishing amp Enterprises ISBN 978 1 61566 547 1 Yenne Bill 2005 Secret Gadgets and Strange Gizmos High Tech and Low Tech Innovations of the U S Military St Paul MN Zenith Press ISBN 978 0 7603 2115 7 External links edit nbsp Media related to Alpha Draco at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alpha Draco amp oldid 1103465262, 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