A rockoon (from rocket and balloon) is a solid fuelsounding rocket that, rather than being immediately lit while on the ground, is first carried into the upper atmosphere by a gas-filled balloon, then separated from the balloon and ignited. This allows the rocket to achieve a higher altitude, as the rocket does not have to move under power through the lower and thicker layers of the atmosphere.
A Deacon rockoon just after shipboard launch.
A rockoon at liftoff, August 2022.
The original concept was developed by Cmdr. Lee Lewis, Cmdr. G. Halvorson, S. F. Singer, and James A. Van Allen during the Aerobee rocket firing cruise of the U.S.S. Norton Sound on March 1, 1949.
A serious disadvantage is that unpiloted balloons cannot be steered,[1] and consequently the location from which the rocket is launched can be uncertain. Therefore, a large area for the fall of the rocket is required for safety reasons.
Time magazine reported in 1959: "Van Allen's 'Rockoons' could not be fired in Iowa for fear that the spent rockets would strike an Iowan or his house." Van Allen convinced the U.S. Coast Guard to let him fire his rockoons from the icebreaker Eastwind that was bound for Greenland. "The first balloon rose properly to 70,000 ft., but the rocket hanging under it did not fire. The second Rockoon behaved in the same maddening way. On the theory that extreme cold at high altitude might have stopped the clockwork supposed to ignite the rockets, Van Allen heated cans of orange juice snuggled them into the third Rockoon's gondola and wrapped the whole business in insulation. The rocket fired."
James Van Allen holding (Loki) instrumented Rockoon, Credit: JPL
The Office of Naval Research (USA ONR) used the Loki in some of its Rockoon launches, lofting the Loki to high altitudes on a helium balloon before firing, for upper atmosphere research.[2] The first Rockoon launch of the Loki I occurred on Jul 1 1955 from shipboard off the coast of Greenland.[3]
During July–October 1955 instrumented Loki I and Deacon rockets were successfully balloon launched (Rockoons) from shipboard off the coast of Greenland in cosmic-ray studies by The University of Iowa research group. Army Ordnance supplied JPL-developed Loki rockets and ONR sponsored the project.[4]
The first attempt of the Deacon Rockoon on Aug 21 1952 06:25 GMT from the Arctic Ocean 80.1 N x 68.5 W was a failure.[5] However, success came on Aug 9 1953 in the Atlantic Ocean, Launch Site 11 Launch Point 10 74.38 N x 71.93 W, at 05:54 GMT.[6] This was quickly followed by another success on Aug 30 1953 20:46 GMT, at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 13 53.13 N, 54.75 W.[6]
In September 1957, as part of the U.S. contributions for the International Geophysical Year, thirty-six Rockoons (balloon-launched rockets) were launched from Navy icebreaker U.S.S. Glacier in Atlantic, Pacific, and Antarctic areas ranging from 75° N. to 72° S. latitude, as part of the scientific program headed by James A. Van Allen and Lawrence J. Cahill of The University of Iowa. These were the first known upper atmosphere rocket soundings in the Antarctic area. Launched from IGY Rockoon Launch Site 2, Atlantic Ocean; Latitude: 0.83° N, Longitude: 0.99° W.
Recent usage
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(October 2020)
More recently, the JP Aerospace company has developed and used rockoons as part of its space access plans.[7] Additionally, Iowa State University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and Purdue University (Purdue Orbital) have started programs to develop rockoons[8][9][10] and significant work has been recently done by Leo Aerospace based in Los Angeles and a Romanian space company, ARCASPACE. The Spanish company Zero2infinity plans to launch a toroid shaped rocket from a balloon called Bloostar in 2018[needs update] to carry micro satellites to low Earth orbit. UK base company, B2Space is developing the concept to launch small satellites into low Earth orbit.[11] The American company Deimos-One is developing an AI assisted concept to launch rockets and carry satellites to low Earth orbit.[12]
^"Stealth Startup Deimos-One Seeks To Revolutionize The Aerospace Industry With Radical New Launch Strategy". 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
Sources
. Archived from the original on 2013-11-08.
Leland Goodwin, Harold (1963). The Flying Stingaree. Rick Brant Science-Adventure Series.
External links
Look up rockoon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Details of Rockoon launches made in 1956 from the USS COLONIAL in the Pacific Ocean Stratocat website
Details of Rockoon launches made between 1952 and 1954 in the Arctic by the USCGC EASTWIND Stratocat website
High Altitude Research Corporation
January 31, 2023
rockoon, albums, tangerine, dream, album, square, album, rockoon, from, rocket, balloon, solid, fuel, sounding, rocket, that, rather, than, being, immediately, while, ground, first, carried, into, upper, atmosphere, filled, balloon, then, separated, from, ball. For the albums see Rockoon Tangerine Dream album and Rockoon T Square album A rockoon from rocket and balloon is a solid fuel sounding rocket that rather than being immediately lit while on the ground is first carried into the upper atmosphere by a gas filled balloon then separated from the balloon and ignited This allows the rocket to achieve a higher altitude as the rocket does not have to move under power through the lower and thicker layers of the atmosphere A Deacon rockoon just after shipboard launch A rockoon at liftoff August 2022 The original concept was developed by Cmdr Lee Lewis Cmdr G Halvorson S F Singer and James A Van Allen during the Aerobee rocket firing cruise of the U S S Norton Sound on March 1 1949 A serious disadvantage is that unpiloted balloons cannot be steered 1 and consequently the location from which the rocket is launched can be uncertain Therefore a large area for the fall of the rocket is required for safety reasons Contents 1 Early atmospheric research 2 Recent usage 3 See also 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksEarly atmospheric research EditTime magazine reported in 1959 Van Allen s Rockoons could not be fired in Iowa for fear that the spent rockets would strike an Iowan or his house Van Allen convinced the U S Coast Guard to let him fire his rockoons from the icebreaker Eastwind that was bound for Greenland The first balloon rose properly to 70 000 ft but the rocket hanging under it did not fire The second Rockoon behaved in the same maddening way On the theory that extreme cold at high altitude might have stopped the clockwork supposed to ignite the rockets Van Allen heated cans of orange juice snuggled them into the third Rockoon s gondola and wrapped the whole business in insulation The rocket fired James Van Allen holding Loki instrumented Rockoon Credit JPL The Office of Naval Research USA ONR used the Loki in some of its Rockoon launches lofting the Loki to high altitudes on a helium balloon before firing for upper atmosphere research 2 The first Rockoon launch of the Loki I occurred on Jul 1 1955 from shipboard off the coast of Greenland 3 During July October 1955 instrumented Loki I and Deacon rockets were successfully balloon launched Rockoons from shipboard off the coast of Greenland in cosmic ray studies by The University of Iowa research group Army Ordnance supplied JPL developed Loki rockets and ONR sponsored the project 4 The first attempt of the Deacon Rockoon on Aug 21 1952 06 25 GMT from the Arctic Ocean 80 1 N x 68 5 W was a failure 5 However success came on Aug 9 1953 in the Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 10 74 38 N x 71 93 W at 05 54 GMT 6 This was quickly followed by another success on Aug 30 1953 20 46 GMT at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 13 53 13 N 54 75 W 6 In September 1957 as part of the U S contributions for the International Geophysical Year thirty six Rockoons balloon launched rockets were launched from Navy icebreaker U S S Glacier in Atlantic Pacific and Antarctic areas ranging from 75 N to 72 S latitude as part of the scientific program headed by James A Van Allen and Lawrence J Cahill of The University of Iowa These were the first known upper atmosphere rocket soundings in the Antarctic area Launched from IGY Rockoon Launch Site 2 Atlantic Ocean Latitude 0 83 N Longitude 0 99 W Recent usage EditThis section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information October 2020 More recently the JP Aerospace company has developed and used rockoons as part of its space access plans 7 Additionally Iowa State University the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Purdue University Purdue Orbital have started programs to develop rockoons 8 9 10 and significant work has been recently done by Leo Aerospace based in Los Angeles and a Romanian space company ARCASPACE The Spanish company Zero2infinity plans to launch a toroid shaped rocket from a balloon called Bloostar in 2018 needs update to carry micro satellites to low Earth orbit UK base company B2Space is developing the concept to launch small satellites into low Earth orbit 11 The American company Deimos One is developing an AI assisted concept to launch rockets and carry satellites to low Earth orbit 12 See also EditAir launch to orbit CU Spaceflight Da Vinci Project JP Aerospace Non rocket spacelaunch Zero2infinity s Bloostar Deimos One s Vulcan The Space PerspectiveReferences Edit Ballooning FAQs balloonsoverrockbridge com Retrieved April 1 2020 Chronology Quarter 2 1951 Archived from the original on January 18 2010 Chronology Quarter 3 1955 Archived from the original on December 2 2008 Aeronautics and Astronautics Chronology 1955 57 Chronology Quarter 3 1952 Archived from the original on January 18 2010 a b Chronology Quarter 3 1953 Archived from the original on December 2 2008 Rockoons www jpaerospace com BalloonSat space uah edu Retrieved 2018 10 14 ISU Rockoon Project SEDSWiki Archived from the original on 2009 09 27 Retrieved 2010 02 27 Purdue Orbital Purdue Orbital B2Space www b2 space com Stealth Startup Deimos One Seeks To Revolutionize The Aerospace Industry With Radical New Launch Strategy 2021 01 25 Retrieved 2021 01 26 Sources Edit Encyclopedia Astronautica Rockoon Archived from the original on 2013 11 08 Leland Goodwin Harold 1963 The Flying Stingaree Rick Brant Science Adventure Series External links Edit Look up rockoon in Wiktionary the free dictionary Details of Rockoon launches made in 1956 from the USS COLONIAL in the Pacific Ocean Stratocat website Details of Rockoon launches made between 1952 and 1954 in the Arctic by the USCGC EASTWIND Stratocat website High Altitude Research Corporation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rockoon amp oldid 1131559733, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
