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Lark
 Lark Credit: via Andreas Parsch |
AKA: CTV-N-10;CTV-N-9;KAQ;KAY;RV-A-22;SAM-N-2;SAM-N-2-4;SAM-N-4. Status: Retired 1953. First Launch: 1950-10-25. Last Launch: 1953-07-08. Number: 40 . Gross mass: 900 kg (1,980 lb). Height: 5.60 m (18.30 ft). Diameter: 0.46 m (1.50 ft). Apogee: 8.00 km (4.90 mi).
Development of the Lark anti-aircraft missile began in late 1944 as an anti-Kamikaze weapon. In a crash program, parallel contracts were awarded to Fairchild and Consolidated-Vultee. However by the time flight testing began in June 1946 the war was over. Lark used two solid propellant rocket boosters for initial acceleration, and a two-chamber Reaction Motors LR2-RM-2 liquid-propellant engine for cruise. Cruciform wings and tailfins provided stability and control. The 45 kg (100 lb) warhead was detonated by a proximity fuse.
As was usual for early missiles, the guidance system was the biggest challenge. Early tests used a manual radio-guidance system. The Fairchild missile used radio-command mid-course guidance and semi-active radar terminal homing. The Convair missile used beam-riding for mid-course guidance and a radar for active terminal homing. As the years went by, development of alternate designs under the Navy Bumblebee program showed greater promise. Lark was terminated soon after test launches from the USS Norton Sound had begun in 1950. Surplus rockets were used later to test the guidance system for the US Army's Lacrosse missile.
More at: Lark.
Family: ship-launched, surface-to-air. Country: USA. Engines: LR2-RM-6, LR6, XLR20AJ-2, XLR24AJ-2. Launch Sites: Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LA. Agency: Martin/Convair. Bibliography: 17, 2, 39, 4460, 563.
During 1946 - . Launch Vehicle: Lark.
- Lark Program - . Nation: USA. Vultee Lark missile program in progress.
1950 October 25 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
- Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 8.00 km (4.90 mi). The first Lark missile launched by Air Force from Cape Canaveral, the last of the three missiles launched in 1950 at the LRPG..
1950 October 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1950 November 21 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1951 April 11 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1951 April 17 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1951 May 3 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1951 May 11 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1951 May 29 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1951 June 7 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1951 June 7 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1951 July 3 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1951 July 20 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1951 September 13 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1951 September 19 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1951 October 4 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1951 December 11 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1952 January 28 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1952 February 12 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1952 February 28 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1952 March 21 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1952 April 10 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1952 April 17 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1952 May 16 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1952 June 24 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1952 July 7 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1952 July 15 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1952 September 17 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1952 November 28 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1952 December 4 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1952 December 16 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1953 February 12 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1953 February 24 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1953 March 3 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1953 March 16 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1953 April 8 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1953 April 22 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark. FAILURE: Failure.
1953 April 28 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1953 May 12 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1953 May 14 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
1953 July 8 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Vehicle: Lark.
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