Argo E-5
The Argo E-5 was a five-stage sounding rocket specially developed by Aerolab for the US Air Force . It was used to measure radiation after atomic bomb explosions at altitudes of 700 to 800 km. The US Air Force launched it a total of 22 times under the name Jason in 1958 to measure the effects before and after the Argus test series.
The launches took place between July 11 and September 2, 1958 from Cape Canaveral AFS and Ramey AFB . 19 of the 22 launches were nuclear surveillance missions conducted in connection with Operation Argus .
Technical specifications
The first stage was taken over by the Honest John missile . The second and third levels were each Nike level. The fourth stage was a recruit , followed by a Thiokol T-55 . The four-stage javelin was used for later missions .
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| First flight | July 11, 1958 |
| Manufacturer | Aerolab |
| length | 17.5 m |
| diameter | 1st step: 58 cm 2nd / 3rd Step: 42 cm 4th step: 23 cm 5th step: 15.7 cm |
| Takeoff weight | 3330 kg |
| Top speed | Do 12.5 |
| apogee | 800 km |
| drive | 1st stage: ABL M6 solid fuel rocket; Thrust: 365 kN for 5 s 2nd / 3rd. Stage: ABL M5 solid rocket; Thrust: 217 kN for 3.5 s 4th stage: Thiokol XM19E1 Recruit solid rocket; Thrust: 156 kN for 1.5 s 5th stage: Thiokol T-55 (1.3KS4800) solid rocket; Thrust: 21 kN for 1.3 s |
| payload | 57 kg |
Web links
- Jason sounding rocket (Argo E-5) in the Encyclopedia Astronautica (English)