Kookaburra (rocket)

The Kookaburra is an Australian sounding rocket , consisting of a Lupus starter stage and a Musca second stage, which was produced between 1969/70 and 1975.

The rocket was introduced in 1970 and replaced the HAD rocket . It was taken out of service in 1975 when the Australian sounding program was discontinued. After the rocket was launched, a package of sensors was ejected at an altitude of about 75 kilometers and fell through the atmosphere, recording data in the process.

The missile was used in Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 versions and was launched 33 times between 1969 and 1976. Starting places were Woomera and Gan .

Technical specifications

• Summit height: 75 km
• Takeoff weight: 100 kg
• Diameter: 0.12 m
• Length: 3.40 m

Web links

• Kookaburra in the Encyclopedia Astronautica (English)