Aries Credit - via Andreas Parsch

Target missile. Country: USA. Status: Active.

Space Vector Corporation developed and flew the Aries test vehicle (based on the Minuteman 1 second stage) for Strategic Defence Initiative payloads.

Historical Essay © Andreas Parsch

The retirement of the U.S. Air Force's LGM-30A/B Minuteman I ICBM in the late 1960s and early 1970s made hundreds of high-performance solid-fueled rocket stages surplus. In 1971, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) realized, that the second stage of the Minuteman I could be used to create a powerful single-stage sounding rocket, and contracted Space Vector Corp. (SVC) to build this vehicle. The rocket was initially called "Fat Albert", but the name was soon changed to Aries. The first Aries was successfully launched with a dummy payload on 17 October 1973.

The Aries was essentially an Aerojet M56 solid-propellant rocket stage fitted with four fixed tail fins and a nose cone. The M56 was steered by four gimballed nozzles, and SVC developed a new guidance and control system which was more suited to sounding rockets than the one of the ICBM. Other than most sounding rockets, the Aries was thus a fully guided missile and could therefore be used from relatively confined firing ranges. It was also by far the most powerful single-stage sounding vehicle, and could lift a payload of 820 kg (1800 lb) to more than 320 km (200 miles). The highest apogee reached by an Aries was 512 km (318 miles).

After the first two Aries tests, the configuration was slightly changed. The tail skirt was altered and the original fins (which had been taken from surplus RIM-8 Talos missiles) were replaced by a new design. The Aries was used by NASA to launch especially large and heavy payloads above the atmosphere, like X-ray and UV telescopes. Maximum payload capacity was 1590 kg (3500 lb). USAF and NASA launched more than 20 Aries rockets on scientific missions until the early 1990s.

The Aries was also used by the military as a target launch vehicle for tests of anti-ballistic missiles. The majority of these tests launched targets for the U.S. Navy's RIM-156B SM-2 Block IV A and RIM-161 SM-3 interceptor missiles. Until the end of 2004, a total of more than 50 Aries rockets has been launched, and use as a ballistic missile target vehicle is continuing. Current prime contractor for Aries-type target boosters is Orbital Sciences Corporation, which is calling the rocket the TTV (Target Test Vehicle).

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

• Length 7.80 m (25 ft 7 in) - 10.62 m (34 ft 10 in)
• Diameter 1.13 m (44.4 in)
• Finspan 2.86 m (9 ft 4.5 in)
• Weight 6060 kg (13370 lb) - 7150 kg (15760 lb)
• Altitude > 320 km (200 miles)
• Propulsion Aerojet M56 solid-fueled rocket; 207 kN (46500 lb) for 62 s

Manufacturer: Space Vector. Launches: 57. Failures: 7. Success Rate: 87.72%. First Launch Date: 1973-10-17. Last Launch Date: 2006-12-07. Launch data is: continuing. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 200.000 kN (44,960 lbf). Total Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Core Diameter: 1.16 m (3.80 ft). Total Length: 9.20 m (30.10 ft).

• Stage1: 1 x M56. Gross Mass: 5,170 kg (11,390 lb). Empty Mass: 466 kg (1,027 lb). Motor: 1 x M56A-1. Thrust (vac): 228.400 kN (51,346 lbf). Isp: 297 sec. Burn time: 60 sec. Length: 3.96 m (12.99 ft). Diameter: 1.13 m (3.70 ft). Propellants: Solid.

1973 October 17 - 21:03 GMT - San Nicolas -. Aries NRL NB24.265 Dummy payload test Agency: NRL. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

1974 June 18 - 14:15 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries NRL NB24.268 Test / astronomy mission Agency: NRL. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1974 December 28 - 06:00 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries NRL NB24.275 FAILURE: Failure. Crab Occultation Astronomy mission Agency: NRL. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1975 August 18 - 12:45 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries NASA 12.26GT-IT IMS Prototype test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 417 km (259 mi).

1976 March 30 - 20:27 GMT - Kiruna A. Aries NASA 24.01IE FAILURE: Failure. DLR K-AR-75 Porc. F1 Magnetospheric mission Agency: NASA/DLR. Apogee: 360 km (220 mi).

1976 December 16 - 01:10 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries NRL NB24.277 IMS Test Rocket Test / astronomy mission Agency: NRL. Apogee: 512 km (318 mi).

1977 January 26 - 08:25 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries NRL NB24.276 Astro 8-1 (A8) X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NRL. Apogee: 347 km (215 mi).

1977 March 20 - 19:22 GMT - Kiruna A. Aries NASA 24.02IE DLR K-AR-82 Porc. F2 Magnetospheric mission Agency: NASA/DLR. Apogee: 460 km (280 mi).

1977 November 11 - 04:00 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries GL A24.609-01 TEM-1 ABM infrared sensor technology mission Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 228 km (141 mi).

1978 June 12 - 08:45 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries Astro 8-2 Astro 8-2 X-ray astronomy / microgravity mission Agency: DFVLR. Apogee: 355 km (220 mi).

1979 January 28 - 06:06 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries GL A24.7S2-01 SPICE 1 Infrared astronomy mission Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 249 km (154 mi).

1979 March 19 - 22:57 GMT - Kiruna A. Aries NASA 24.05IE DLR K-AR-92 Porc. F3 Magnetospheric mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 460 km (280 mi).

1979 March 31 - 22:29 GMT - Kiruna A. Aries NASA 24.06IE DLR K-AR-93 Porc. F4 Magnetospheric mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 452 km (280 mi).

1980 May 21 - 12:08 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries GL A24.609-02 TEM-2 ABM infrared / ultraviolet sensor technology mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 232 km (144 mi).

1980 August 18 - 09:50 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries GL A24.6S1-01 ZIP I (BMP) Infrared astronomy mission Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 401 km (249 mi).

1980 September 20 - 01:30 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries NASA 24.03CH LCXT X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 309 km (192 mi).

1981 February 4 - 01:10 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries GL A24.7S1-01 IRBS (BMP) ABM infrared sensor limb characterization technology mission Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 387 km (240 mi).

1981 April 27 - 23:15 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries NASA 24.10UG JHU Aries-UVT Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 263 km (163 mi).

1981 July 31 - 10:50 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries GL A24.6S1-02 ZIP II (BMP) Infrared astronomy mission Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 395 km (245 mi).

1982 January 23 - 08:00 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries GL A24.7S2-02 FIRSSE (BMP) ABM infrared sensor technology / infrared technology mission Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 378 km (234 mi).

1982 May 28 - 15:47 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries GL A24.609-03 TEM-3 ABM infrared sensor technology mission Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 236 km (146 mi).

1982 June 18 - 04:45 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries NASA 24.04UG 1m UVT Extreme ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 247 km (153 mi).

1982 September 9 - 10:17 GMT - Matagorda Island -. Aries DLR M-AR-116 Conestoga 1 test Agency: SSI/DLR. Apogee: 309 km (192 mi). Launch vehicle using surplus Minuteman I components. The launch from Matagorda Island for was for publicity purposes and unrelated to Space Service's other planned launch vehicles, also named Conestoga.

1982 September 15 - 04:49 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries GL A24.7S2-03 SPICE 2 Infrared astronomy mission Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 359 km (223 mi).

1983 October 25 - 11:26 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries GL A24.260 ELC-I (infrared limb) Infrared astronomy mission Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 282 km (175 mi).

1983 November 27 - 23:15 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries NASA 24.15UG Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1986 August 24 - 04:40 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries NASA 24.09UH FAILURE: Failure. X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 23 km (14 mi).

1986 September 5 - 16:30 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries SDIO Delta 180 Target Target mission Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1987 July 27 - Eareckson -. Aries Queen Match ABM infrared sensor technology mission Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1988 August 1 - Eareckson -. Aries Queen Match Recovery failed ABM infrared sensor technology mission Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1989 July 1 - Eareckson -. Aries Queen Match ABM infrared sensor technology mission Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1989 July 13 - 08:30 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries GL A24.602 BEAR Active plasma mission Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 195 km (121 mi). The Beam Experiment Aboard Rocket (BEAR) payload was recovered with minimal damage via parachute after an 11-minute flight to a maximum altitude of 195 km. The neutral partical beam experiment was provided by Los Alamos National Laboratory. The Attitude Control System spun-up the payload at various rates and orientations with respect to the earths magnetic field after separation from the booster. After re-entry, at 5,000 m, the nose was jettisoned and the recovery parachute system deployed. The payload impacted the ground at less than 30 feet per second. The BEAR mission was declared a total success by SDIO.

1990 April 27 - White Sands LC36. Aries GL A24.570 EXCEDE-3 Active plasma mission Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 116 km (72 mi).

1990 July 26 - 05:51 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries SPEAR-2 FAILURE: Failure. Technology mission Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 2.00 km (1.20 mi).

1991 May 20 - 07:30 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries NASA 24.11CH SXT / XOGS X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1991 August 20 - 09:45 GMT - Cape Canaveral LC20. Aries Red Tigress 1A FAILURE: Failure. Target mission Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 2.00 km (1.20 mi).

1991 October 14 - 10:17 GMT - Cape Canaveral LC20. Aries Red Tigress 1B Target Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 320 km (190 mi). LEAP-1. Missile Tracking and Discrimination for SDIO.

1992 February 18 - White Sands LC36. Aries LEAP 1 Technology mission Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 320 km (190 mi).

1992 June 19 - 11:01 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries LEAP 2 Technology test Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 330 km (200 mi). LEAP-2. Missile Tracking and Discrimination for SDIO.

1992 October 22 - Wallops Island -. Aries BP-3 (ALV) FAILURE: Failure. SPFE-3 / Orbus 1 Target Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). LEAP-3. Missile Tracking and Discrimination for SDIO.

1993 June 22 - White Sands LC36. Aries LEAP 3 Technology mission Agency: BMDO/OSC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1993 August 28 - 09:45 GMT - White Sands LC36. Aries NASA 24.17CH FAILURE: Failure. SXT / XOGS X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 8.00 km (4.90 mi).

1995 February 12 - Wallops Island -. Aries LEAP Target Target mission Agency: BMDO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1995 March 4 - Wallops Island -. LEAP FTV-3 Target Target mission Agency: BMDO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1995 March 28 - Wallops Island -. LEAP FTV-4 Target Target mission Agency: BMDO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). LEAP-4. Missile Tracking and Discrimination for SDIO.

1996 July 9 - Wallops Island -. Aries ABIE-TLV TBM tracking test target mission Agency: USAF SMC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). The Airborne Interceptor Experiment) was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of intercepting enemy theater ballistic missiles during early-boost. The Aries Target Launch Vehicle was launched from Wallops Island, flying a boost trajectory similar to a real theater ballistic missile. The missile was detected and tracked by Air Force F-15s, Navy F-14s, an Air Force infrared sensor tracking platform and by fleet surface ships of the US Atlantic Command. The data collected was used to develop an air-launched anti-ballistic missile system.

1998 November 20 - Barking Sands -. Aries TTV-1 TTV-1 Target mission Agency: USA SMDC. Apogee: 322 km (200 mi).

2001 January 26 - 03:57 GMT - Barking Sands -. Aries NTW Aegis Target TTV-2 (FTR-1A) Target mission Agency: USN. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

2001 March 19 - Kodiak -. Aries QRLV-1 Target mission Agency: USAF SMC. Apogee: 163 km (101 mi).

2002 January 26 - 02:00 GMT - Barking Sands -. Aries NTW Aegis Target SMD FM-2 TTV-3 Target mission Agency: USN. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

2002 April 24 - Kodiak -. Aries QRLV-2 Target mission Agency: USAF SMC. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi).

2002 June 14 - 01:23 GMT - Barking Sands -. Aries NTW Aegis Target SMD FM-3 TTV-4 Target mission Agency: USN. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

2002 November 22 - 00:30 GMT - Barking Sands -. Aries LEAP FM4 Target SMD FM-4 TTV-5 Target mission Agency: USN. Apogee: 325 km (201 mi).

2003 June 18 - 23:15 GMT - Barking Sands LC1. Aries NTW Aegis Target SMD FM-5 TTV-6 Target mission Agency: USN. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

2003 December 11 - 18:10 GMT - Barking Sands LC1. Aries NTW Aegis Target SMD FM-6 TTV-7 Target mission Agency: USN. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

2005 February 24 - 21:03 GMT - Barking Sands -. Aries NTW Aegis Target SMD FTM04-1 TTV-8? Agency: USN. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

2006 December 7 - Barking Sands -. Aries Aegis Target Agency: USN. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).