Sounding rocket

A sounding rocket , in the field of the Astronautics, is a rocket describing a suborbital trajectory making it possible to take measurements and experiments.

The term corresponding in English is sounding rocket .

Impetus vertically, a sounding rocket can carry hundreds of Kilogram S of instruments or Expérience S scientists with a Altitude lain between a hundred and a thousand of kilometers according to the models. Its Payload, sheltered in the point of the machine, is recovered with a Parachute. This possibility gave place to two category of applications:

explorations of the upper atmosphere
research in microgravity

Exploration of the upper atmosphere

The first is the Exploration (or Sondage) of high the atmosphere, that neither the balloon S (which reach a maximum around 40 km) reach, nor satellite S (which Orbite NT beyond 200 km).

The first knowledge on the terrestrial environment (Ionosphere, Magnetosphere, etc) was acquired in this way by the the United States and the Soviet Union about the middle of the 20th century, by using amongst other things versions modified of the Ballistic missile German V2 .

For this time, thousands of sounding rockets have been launched all over the world to fine scientists (external Géophysique, Aéronomie, Météorologie, Astronomie, solar physics and even Biologie by means of Cobaye S: Cat S, Monkey S, Rat S, etc).

Program French

For its part, the France carried out during about fifteen years (roughly between 1960 and 1975) an important research program scientists and technological with hundreds of sounding rocket (Centaure, Dragon, Eridan, Veronique) launched to France (island of Raising, Kourou, Îles Kerguelen, Ad3elie coast), in Algérie (Hammaguir, Colomb-Béchar, Reggane) and during campaigns abroad (Brésil, Norway, Iceland, etc).

Research in microgravity

The second type of applications relates to research in Microgravité. In this case, one makes profitable the very weak residual Pesanteur observed in the upper part of the trajectory of the point when the Propulsion ceased and that aerodynamic friction is still reduced.

According to the flights, one can obtain a Micropesanteur of 10-4 G during 5 to 15 seconds. It is an application more recent than the preceding one, which allows the scientific to prepare Expérience S called to fly on a space vehicle of the type Space shuttle or satellite. The applications relate to especially the science of the materials (experiments of fusion and Solidification) and interest in particular the United States, the Japan and the Europe, which decided, in 1982, a programme of this type with the sounding rocket Texus and, since 1991, Maxus since the base of Esrange.

Reference

Right French: decree of February 20th, 1995 relating to the terminology of sciences and space technology.

See too

List of the articles relating to astronautics

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