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Iris
Iris
Iris
American sounding rocket. Sounding rocket developed by Navy, then handed over to NASA. Flown only four times, but then used in unique Hydra-Iris test series.

Status: Retired 1968. First Launch: 1960-07-22. Last Launch: 1962-05-03. Number: 5 . Payload: 45 kg (99 lb). Thrust: 17.00 kN (3,821 lbf). Gross mass: 602 kg (1,327 lb). Height: 5.00 m (16.40 ft). Diameter: 0.31 m (1.01 ft). Apogee: 320 km (190 mi).

The Iris sounding rocket was originally designed by the Naval Research Laboratory to take 45 kg payloads to altitudes of 320 km. It was transferred to NASA with other NRL sounding rockets and flown only four times. It required launch from an Aerobee-like tower, with the seven clustered booster motors burning out and separating before the upper stage left the tower.

From NASA SOUNDING ROCKETS, 1958-1968 - A Historical Summary, NASA SP-4401, 1971, by William R. Corliss

The development of the Iris sounding rocket had begun at NRL prior to the transfer of its Rocket-Sonde group to NASA. Iris was built by the Atlantic Research Corp. for the Naval Bureau of Ordnance, with NRL monitoring the design, the production, and the payload. The development of the rocket was completed by NASA, with the first NASA firing taking place at Wallops Island on July 22, 1960. In contrast to the monsters in the Argo series, Iris is a small, two-stage, solid-propellant rocket capable of lifting 45 kg (100 lb) to about 320 km (200 mi). NASA has not used the Iris rocket since 1962.

Payload: 45 kg (99 lb) to a 320 km altitude.

More at: Iris.
Subtopics
Hydra-Iris American sounding rocket. Two stage underwater-launched vehicle consisting of 3 x Sparrow motors in the booster stage and an Iris upper stage.
Country: USA. Launch Sites: Wallops Island, Wallops Island LA1. Stages: MARC 13A1, MARC 14B1. Agency: NRL. Bibliography: 17, 2, 378.
1960 July 22 - . 12:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA1. Launch Vehicle: Iris.
1960 October 18 - . 14:17 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA1. Launch Vehicle: Iris.
1961 January 19 - . 12:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA1. Launch Vehicle: Iris. FAILURE: Failure.
1961 October 30 - . Launch Site: Eglin. Launch Vehicle: Iris.
1962 May 3 - . 18:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA1. Launch Vehicle: Iris.
1964 August 10 - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 34.0 N x 123.0 W. Launch Platform: T-AGM-8. LV Family: Iris. Launch Vehicle: Hydra-Iris.
1965 January 7 - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 56.5 S x 27.4 W. Launch Platform: T-AGM-8. LV Family: Iris. Launch Vehicle: Hydra-Iris. FAILURE: Failure.
1965 January 26 - . 09:40 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 35.1 S x 35.5 W. Launch Platform: T-AGM-8. LV Family: Iris. Launch Vehicle: Hydra-Iris.
1965 October 28 - . 18:01 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 30.0 N x 120.0 W. Launch Platform: T-AGM-8. LV Family: Iris. Launch Vehicle: Hydra-Iris.
1966 May 31 - . 17:16 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 10.0 N x 115.9 W. Launch Platform: T-AGM-8. LV Family: Iris. Launch Vehicle: Hydra-Iris.
1966 October 30 - . 17:45 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 31.0 N x 133.0 W. Launch Platform: T-AGM-8. LV Family: Iris. Launch Vehicle: Hydra-Iris. FAILURE: Failure.
1968 March 20 - . 19:55 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 32.3 N x 128.0 W. Launch Platform: AVM1. LV Family: Iris. Launch Vehicle: Hydra-Iris.
1968 November 3 - . 18:00 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 27.5 N x 125.0 W. Launch Platform: T-AGM-8. LV Family: Iris. Launch Vehicle: Hydra-Iris.
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