The Limitations of Upper-Atmosphere Research Vehicles Powered by Current British Solid-Fuel Rockets

Abstract

Two rocket motors were selected as typical of current British boost and sustainer motors respectively, and the minimum amounts of fin structure, etc., needed to convert them into aerodynamically stable vehicles were added. The performance of these single-stage vehicles in vertical climbs from sea level was evaluated by numerical integration. The maximum altitude attained was 120,000 ft. which is not much above the economical limit for balloons. If current rockets are to be of value in upper-atmosphere research, therefore, they must either be used in a single-stage arrangement, or be launched well above sea level, perhaps from a balloon or mountain top. Alternatively, a new solid fuel rocket motor with a long burning time and high length/diameter ratio could be designed specifically for the purpose of high-altitude research - this is probably the best approach.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1953
Accession Number
ADA473859

Entities

People

  • Desmond King-Hele

Organizations

  • Royal Aircraft Establishment

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Atmospheres
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Center Of Gravity
  • Diameters
  • Fuels
  • Guided Weapons
  • High Altitude
  • Mach Number
  • Nose Cones
  • Numerical Integration
  • Rocket Engines
  • Rockets
  • Sea Level
  • Solid Fuels
  • Specific Impulse
  • Trajectories

Readers

  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design