Astrobee

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Sounding rocket. Country: USA. Status: Retired 1983.

Aerojet-designed family of sounding rockets conceived as a lower-cost replacement of the liquid-propellant Aerobee.

From Aerojet - The Creative Company, 1995:

…by 1969 it appeared that there was a substantial need for small and extremely low cost sounding rockets, and enough experience had been gained that a dual thrust motor would be attractive. As a result the NASA Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (NASA-OAST) funded the development of such a motor and vehicle. The resulting Astrobee D motor (and complete vehicle of the same name) was 6" in diameter and had a thrust in the boost phase of about 3600 lbf, and 2000 lbf in the sustainer mode. Sixty five were produced, and 49 were flown, with one failure.
While this program was in process, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center authorized a much larger version (15" diameter) having thrust levels of 38,000 lbf boost and 8,000 lbf sustain, which was designated the Astrobee F. The first firing test in December 1970 resulted in meeting the desired propulsion parameters, including a duration of 50 seconds. However the nozzle suffered asymmetric erosion that removed one quadrant of the insulation. The second test resulted in chamber burnout close to this same location, and it took two more iterations to achieve a successful design. The Astrobee F was designed specifically to approximate the very mild flight environment of the Aerobee in terms of wind sensitivity, dynamic pressure, aerodynamic heating and stability margin - and it met these goals. Flight tests were successful, and 48 units were flown, but again suffered one failure of the rocket motor.
Although Space General Corporation fielded several other vehicles designated as Astrobees, none of these used any dual thrust Aerojet solid propellant motors. These included Astrobee 200, 250, and 1500.
Astrobee is a family of sounding rockets that is in the tradition of the Aerobee family. The Astrobee rocket uses a solid propellant second stage where the Aerobee has a liquid one. Astrobees are a family of four, ranging from the tiny 10 ft long Astrobee D to the 48 ft high Astrobee Super Chief II and III. The name Chief was selected by the Navy in the same tradition as the Army Corporal and Sergeant rockets. The middle range Astrobee F is comparable in performance to Aerobee 170. But the Astrobee 1500 has about three to four times the altitude capability of the largest Aerobee - the 350. The Super Chief III Astrobee has up to 60% more payload than the Aerobee 350. The largest Astrobees are 31 in. diameter compared to the 15 in. and 22 in. diameters of the Aerobees. This 31 in. diameter is quite large for a sounding rocket and quite respectable for any rocket when considering that the small ICBM is 46 in. diameter and Minuteman III is 52 inches. The largest Astrobee is also nearly 10% longer than the Trident II SLBM
The D, F and 1500 models use an aerodynamic fin-stabilized first stage and a spin-stabilized second stage. Both stages of the Super Chief are fm-stabilized. Most motors are built by Aerojet and include Aerojet Jr., ALCOR, and Astrobee motors. They mostly use Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB) for the required environmental characteristics and the ability to produce the slender designs peculiar to sounding rocket sustainer motors. It also gives high Isp at the very low propellant burning rates needed for these motors. Dual thrust was designed into the motors to limit the wind dispersion by use of high initial acceleration without auxiliary boosters. The sustainer thrust is about one-fourth the booster thrust to limit aerodynamic loading to Aerobee levels. The Astrobee Super Chief used a Talos booster motor with over 115,000 lbf average thrust on the first stage. Either a Sergeant or Castor motor were used on the second stage with burn durations of up to 40 seconds. The Astrobees would sometimes compete with the more expensive but longer duration and earth-circling satellites. The Astrobee 1500 could generally go higher than most satellites and certainly cost less. Practical size payloads could be lifted to 700 to 1,600 miles altitude.
Astrobee design stressed reliability and low cost. Reed Jenkins remembers, "They had elegant simplicity. The motor was only four parts, including a one-piece nozzle. We had to keep the cost down and it was a constant battle." Launch configurations were oriented to low cost and also quick turnaround. The limit of two stages allowed units to be readily trailered. Assembly was made at ground level like the Aerobees and the launcher would erect the vehicle to the vertical launch position. The Super Chief needed very substantial launchers, yet there were several to choose from, including one adapted from a ship's 5 inch gun turret mount, the Athena launcher and the AML-20K launcher.
The flight logs maintained by Al Olson show there were 309 successful Astrobee flights of 314 post-development flights yielding a reliability of 98.4%. This is an enviable record for any multi-stage rocket launch vehicle.

Manufacturer: Aerojet. Launches: 118. Failures: 11. Success Rate: 90.68%. First Launch Date: 1960-03-22. Last Launch Date: 1983-03-02. Launch data is: complete. Version:

Astrobee 200.

Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Genie + 1 x Alcor

Launches: 10. Failures: 3. First Launch Date: 1961-06-30. Last Launch Date: 1966-12-14. Apogee: 350 km (210 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 161.000 kN (36,194 lbf). Total Mass: 800 kg (1,760 lb). Core Diameter: 0.38 m (1.24 ft). Total Length: 6.30 m (20.60 ft).

Stage1: 1 x HJ Nike Nike-3. Gross Mass: 599 kg (1,320 lb). Empty Mass: 256 kg (564 lb). Motor: 1 x M5E1. Thrust (vac): 195.600 kN (43,973 lbf). Burn time: 3.40 sec. Length: 3.60 m (11.80 ft). Diameter: 0.42 m (1.37 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Stage2: 1 x Alcor. Gross Mass: 520 kg (1,140 lb). Empty Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Motor: 1 x Alcor. Thrust (vac): 35.588 kN (8,001 lbf). Isp: 230 sec. Burn time: 30 sec. Length: 1.37 m (4.49 ft). Diameter: 0.46 m (1.50 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Version:

Astrobee 500.

Three stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Genie + 1 x Alcor + 1 x Asp

Launches: 1. Failures: 1. First Launch Date: 1960-03-22. Last Launch Date: 1960-03-22. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 161.000 kN (36,194 lbf). Total Mass: 900 kg (1,980 lb). Core Diameter: 0.38 m (1.24 ft). Total Length: 7.80 m (25.50 ft).

Stage1: 1 x Astrobee 500-1. Gross Mass: 300 kg (660 lb). Motor: 1 x MB-1. Thrust (vac): 156.000 kN (35,070 lbf). Burn time: 1.50 sec. Length: 1.80 m (5.90 ft). Diameter: 0.38 m (1.24 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Stage2: 1 x Alcor. Gross Mass: 520 kg (1,140 lb). Empty Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Motor: 1 x Alcor. Thrust (vac): 35.588 kN (8,001 lbf). Isp: 230 sec. Burn time: 30 sec. Length: 1.37 m (4.49 ft). Diameter: 0.46 m (1.50 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Stage3: 1 x Asp. Gross Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Empty Mass: 18 kg (39 lb). Motor: 1 x RM-1100. Thrust (vac): 26.000 kN (5,845 lbf). Burn time: 5.30 sec. Length: 2.70 m (8.80 ft). Diameter: 0.17 m (0.54 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Version:

Astrobee 1500.
Astrobee 1500

Three stage vehicle consisting of 2 x Recruit + 1 x Aerojet Jr + 1 x Alcor

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

The Astrobee 1500 was first used by NASA in 1962. It was intended to be a replacement for the large Argo D-8 Journeyman rocket, which NASA used for big payloads and high altitudes. A replacement was necessary because the Journeyman first stage, the Sergeant motor, was becoming increasingly hard to get. Built by Aerojet, the Astrobee 1500 consisted of an Aerojet 100 (Aerojet Junior) first stage augmented by two Thiokol Recruits, plus an Alcor second stage. Like the Journeyman, the Astrobee 1500 has been used only sparingly in NASA's programs, it being unnecessarily big and expensive for most purposes.

Launches: 10. Failures: 3. First Launch Date: 1961-03-08. Last Launch Date: 1969-10-15. Apogee: 2,000 km (1,200 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 566.000 kN (127,241 lbf). Total Mass: 5,200 kg (11,400 lb). Core Diameter: 0.79 m (2.59 ft). Total Length: 10.40 m (34.10 ft).

Stage0: 2 x Journeyman-0. Gross Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Motor: 1 x 1.5KS35000. Thrust (vac): 156.000 kN (35,070 lbf). Burn time: 1.50 sec. Length: 2.60 m (8.50 ft). Diameter: 0.23 m (0.75 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Stage1: 1 x Scanner-1. Gross Mass: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb). Thrust (vac): 254.000 kN (57,101 lbf). Burn time: 28 sec. Length: 5.70 m (18.70 ft). Diameter: 0.79 m (2.59 ft).

Stage2: 1 x Alcor. Gross Mass: 520 kg (1,140 lb). Empty Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Motor: 1 x Alcor. Thrust (vac): 35.588 kN (8,001 lbf). Isp: 230 sec. Burn time: 30 sec. Length: 1.37 m (4.49 ft). Diameter: 0.46 m (1.50 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Version:

Astrobee D.

Single stage vehicle.

Launches: 48. Failures: 2. Success Rate: 95.83%. First Launch Date: 1970-06-08. Last Launch Date: 1980-02-16. Apogee: 140 km (80 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 23.000 kN (5,170 lbf). Total Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Core Diameter: 0.15 m (0.49 ft). Total Length: 3.90 m (12.70 ft).

Stage1: 1 x Astrobee D-1. Gross Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Empty Mass: 20 kg (44 lb). Motor: 1 x Astrobee D. Thrust (vac): 8.900 kN (2,001 lbf). Burn time: 17 sec. Length: 2.80 m (9.10 ft). Diameter: 0.15 m (0.49 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Version:

Astrobee F.

Single stage solid-fueled dual-thrust rocket replacement for the Aerobee 150.

It had the same diameter and payload interfaces, allowing proven Aerobee payloads to be used without significant changes.

Launches: 49. Failures: 2. Success Rate: 95.92%. First Launch Date: 1972-09-26. Last Launch Date: 1983-03-02. Apogee: 375 km (233 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 178.000 kN (40,015 lbf). Total Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Core Diameter: 0.38 m (1.24 ft). Total Length: 11.50 m (37.70 ft).

Stage1: 1 x Astrobee F-1. Gross Mass: 1,300 kg (2,800 lb). Empty Mass: 250 kg (550 lb). Motor: 1 x Astrobee F. Thrust (vac): 36.400 kN (8,183 lbf). Burn time: 51 sec. Length: 7.30 m (23.90 ft). Diameter: 0.38 m (1.24 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Astrobee Chronology

1960 March 22 - Eglin -. Astrobee 500 Geodetic flares FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1961 March 8 - 17:53 GMT - Eglin -. Astrobee 1500 AE16.305 Ionosphere mission Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 431 km (267 mi).

1961 June 30 - 17:20 GMT - Eglin -. Astrobee 200 CRL AA15.303 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 29 km (18 mi).

1961 August 1 - 20:18 GMT - Vandenberg LC-A. Astrobee 1500 AA16.304 FAILURE: Failure. Test / geodetic mission Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1961 December 8 - Vandenberg LC-A. Project CAMBRIDGE Geodetic mission Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 2,190 km (1,360 mi).

1962 January 29 - 20:00 GMT - Eglin -. Astrobee 200 CRL AA15.109 Day Airglow Test / aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1962 April 18 - 19:32 GMT - Eglin -. Astrobee 200 CRL AA15.285 Mid-latitude B field Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 221 km (137 mi).

1962 April 30 - 18:35 GMT - Eglin -. Astrobee 200 CRL AA15.196 Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 255 km (158 mi).

1962 July 9 - Vandenberg LC-B. FAILURE: Failure. Magnetosphere mission Agency: AEC/Sandia. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi).

1963 April 8 - 11:26 GMT - Wallops Island LA2. Astrobee 1500 NASA 16.01GT FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 72 km (44 mi).

1963 December 9 - 05:24 GMT - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee 200 AC15.610 FAILURE: Failure. Ionization detector Aeronomy / aurora mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 242 km (150 mi).

1964 June 10 - 05:03 GMT - Vandenberg -. Astrobee 200 CRL AC15.373 Sphere Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 343 km (213 mi).

1964 July 18 - 12:22 GMT - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee 200 CRL AC15.363 Dayglow spectra Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 207 km (128 mi).

1964 October 21 - 19:44 GMT - Wallops Island LA2. Astrobee 1500 NASA 16.02GT Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 1,950 km (1,210 mi).

1966 January 23 - 06:06 GMT - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee 200 CRL AC15.732 Electron flux Ionosphere / aurora mission Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 301 km (187 mi).

1966 January 28 - 06:43 GMT - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee 200 CRL AC15.733 FAILURE: Failure. Electron flux Ionosphere / aurora mission Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 61 km (37 mi).

1966 December 14 - 08:16 GMT - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee 200 CRL AC15.735 AE15.735 electron flux Chemical release / aurora mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 212 km (131 mi).

1967 February 25 - 02:35 GMT - Wallops Island LA2. Astrobee 1500 NASA 16.05US Solar radio frequencies mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 2,380 km (1,470 mi).

1967 August 30 - Wallops Island LA2. Astrobee 1500 NASA 16.03GR Radio astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi).

1968 April 20 - 17:38 GMT - Wallops Island LA2. Astrobee 1500 NASA 16.04UI Ionosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 1,250 km (770 mi).

1969 October 15 - 22:43 GMT - Wallops Island LA2. Astrobee 1500 NASA 16.06GR RAE-B Test Radio astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 2,575 km (1,600 mi).

1970 June 8 - White Sands -. Astrobee D Test 1 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 98 km (60 mi).

1970 June 8 - White Sands -. Astrobee D Test 2 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 98 km (60 mi).

1971 January 19 - 19:43 GMT - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D Robin AFCRL 71-1 Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 146 km (90 mi).

1971 January 21 - 18:18 GMT - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D Robin AFCRL 71-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

1971 January 21 - 19:02 GMT - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D Robin AFCRL 71-3 Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 129 km (80 mi).

1971 January 21 - 19:38 GMT - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D Robin AFCRL 71-4 Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 132 km (82 mi).

1971 January 21 - 20:19 GMT - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D Robin AFCRL 71-5 Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 132 km (82 mi).

1971 January 21 - 21:02 GMT - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D Robin AFCRL 71-6 Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 127 km (78 mi).

1972 January 28 - 21:08 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D CRL A30.116-1 Plasma mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 117 km (72 mi).

1972 January 29 - 05:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D CRL A30.116-2 Plasma mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 122 km (75 mi).

1972 March 6 - 12:14 GMT - Poker Flat -. Astrobee D CRL A30.205-3 Infrared emission Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 86 km (53 mi).

1972 March 9 - 10:52 GMT - Poker Flat -. Astrobee D CRL A30.205-4 Infrared emission Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1972 September 26 - 18:13 GMT - Wallops Island LA1. Astrobee F NASA 12.20GT Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 199 km (123 mi).

1972 December 6 - 06:35 GMT - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee D CRL A30.205-1 FAILURE: Failure. Auroral Quiet infrared Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 27 km (16 mi).

1972 December 9 - 01:30 GMT - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee D CRL A30.205-2 Auroral Quiet infrared Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 70 km (43 mi).

1973 March 21 - 10:11 GMT - Poker Flat -. Astrobee D CRL A30.205-5 Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 78 km (48 mi).

1973 April 6 - 08:45 GMT - Poker Flat -. Astrobee D CRL A30.205-6 Enhanced OH Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 78 km (48 mi).

1973 June 30 - 20:30 GMT - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D NASA 23.01GT Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 93 km (57 mi).

1973 October 3 - 01:40 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D CRL A30.311-1 Infrared Radiometer Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 53 km (32 mi).

1973 October 3 - 02:27 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D CRL A30.311-2 Infrared Radiometer Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1973 October 3 - 06:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D CRL A30.311-3 Infrared Radiometer Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 102 km (63 mi).

1974 February 8 - 04:16 GMT - Poker Flat -. Astrobee D CRL A30.311-4 Tracking test Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 91 km (56 mi).

1974 April 11 - 23:38 GMT - Poker Flat -. Astrobee D CRL A30.413-1 FAILURE: Failure. Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1974 April 12 - 23:25 GMT - Poker Flat -. Astrobee D CRL A30.413-2 VLF Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 129 km (80 mi).

1974 May 8 - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 12.21GT FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 155 km (96 mi).

1974 October 10 - 16:37 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D NASA 23.05UE Ionosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1975 February 26 - 22:50 GMT - Poker Flat -. Astrobee D CRL A30.413-3 Gerdian Condenser Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 104 km (64 mi).

1975 March 1 - 01:00 GMT - Poker Flat -. Astrobee D CRL A30.311-6 Infrared / OH Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 111 km (68 mi).

1975 May 15 - 15:25 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.03GT-NP Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 224 km (139 mi).

1975 July 15 - 15:03 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D NASA 23.02UE Plasma mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 76 km (47 mi).

1975 October 14 - 10:30 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F CRL A31.320-02 Zodiacal infrared Infrared astronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 265 km (164 mi).

1975 December 2 - 12:57 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D CRL A30.311-8 Twilight D-Region Aeronomy / technology mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi).

1975 December 2 - 13:50 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D CRL A30.311-5 Twilight D-Region Aeronomy / technology mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 124 km (77 mi).

1975 December 2 - 17:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D CRL A30.311-7 Twilight D-Region Aeronomy / technology mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 125 km (77 mi).

1975 December 3 - 00:35 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D CRL A30.413-5 Twilight D-Region Aeronomy / technology mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 125 km (77 mi).

1975 December 3 - 00:59 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D CRL A30.205-7 Twilight D-Region Aeronomy / technology mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 125 km (77 mi).

1975 December 3 - 02:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D CRL A30.413-4 Twilight D-Region Aeronomy / technology mission Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 127 km (78 mi).

1976 January 18 - 19:28 GMT - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D NASA 23.03UE Plasma mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 76 km (47 mi).

1976 January 23 - 19:32 GMT - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D NASA 23.04UE Plasma mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 76 km (47 mi).

1976 March 30 - 16:50 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.13CS-NT LPARL Solar Corona Solar x-ray / test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 230 km (140 mi).

1976 May 13 - 02:51 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D NASA 23.06UE Plasma mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1976 August 11 - 15:45 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee D NASA 23.07UE Plasma mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1977 January 8 - 19:38 GMT - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D NASA 23.08UE Plasma mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1977 February 16 - 03:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.15GG Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 198 km (123 mi).

1977 February 20 - White Sands -. LUX / ASE Wolter I Solar x-ray mission Agency: NASA?. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

1977 March 12 - 03:30 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.20UG Astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi).

1977 March 19 - 06:06 GMT - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee F NASA 25.25UE Auroral Oxides Plasma mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 195 km (121 mi).

1977 July 21 - 09:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.16GG Astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 206 km (128 mi).

1977 July 27 - 05:35 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.21UH Wolter I X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 190 km (110 mi).

1977 September 29 - 17:45 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.22UL Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 257 km (159 mi).

1977 December 11 - 07:45 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.17GG UIT-Prototype F1 Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 226 km (140 mi).

1978 January 9 - 20:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.29GA Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 262 km (162 mi).

1978 January 10 - 06:15 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.12UH X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 196 km (121 mi).

1978 January 21 - 09:01 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F GL A31.603 CHARGING Technology mission Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 258 km (160 mi).

1978 March 8 - 04:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.23UH Wolter I X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 190 km (110 mi).

1978 March 13 - 07:50 GMT - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee F NASA 25.31UE Auroral NO Plasma mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 198 km (123 mi).

1978 May 15 - 09:05 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.26DG NRL Mk II ultraviolet Camera Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 211 km (131 mi).

1978 July 20 - 04:30 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.37UH X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 190 km (110 mi).

1978 September 20 - 02:58 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.28UL Extreme ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 224 km (139 mi).

1978 September 26 - 05:05 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.42GG Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 231 km (143 mi).

1978 December 1 - 07:20 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.38UL JHU UVT F9 (Jupiter) Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 238 km (147 mi).

1978 December 11 - 03:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.01UH X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 164 km (101 mi).

1979 January 9 - 11:53 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.32UL Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 214 km (132 mi).

1979 January 17 - 20:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.10AS Solar mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 226 km (140 mi).

1979 January 28 - 03:07 GMT - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee F NASA 25.41UE FAILURE: Failure. Nitric Oxide Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1979 February 20 - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee D NASA 23.11UU Nitric Oxide Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1979 February 26 - 16:50 GMT - Red Lake MCM. Astrobee D NASA 23.09UE Plasma / eclipse mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 85 km (52 mi).

1979 February 27 - 12:00 GMT - Red Lake MCM. Astrobee D NASA 23.10UE Plasma / eclipse mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 85 km (52 mi).

1979 March 15 - 05:20 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.45UH X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 216 km (134 mi).

1979 March 21 - 03:45 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.33UG Astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 221 km (137 mi).

1979 May 21 - 05:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.43GG UIT Prototype Astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 226 km (140 mi).

1979 May 21 - 06:40 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.44GG Astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 240 km (140 mi).

1979 June 2 - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.27DG NRL far ultraviolet Spectrograph Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1979 June 7 - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D NASA 23.12UU Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1979 August 3 - 09:20 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F GL A31.702 FWIR III Aeronomy / infrared astronomy mission Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 172 km (106 mi).

1979 August 17 - 21:15 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.11AS Solar mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi).

1979 September 16 - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D NASA 23.16UE Plasma mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1979 September 20 - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D NASA 23.13UU Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1979 September 24 - 11:15 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.39UG JHU UVS Astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 246 km (152 mi).

1979 October 1 - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D NASA 23.14UU Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1979 October 23 - 03:15 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.49GG Astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 227 km (141 mi).

1979 December 14 - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.48UG Astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1979 December 18 - Wallops Island -. Astrobee D NASA 23.15UU Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1980 January 21 - 08:05 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.51UH X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 216 km (134 mi).

1980 February 16 - 08:25 GMT - San Marco -. Astrobee D NASA 23.17UE Plasma mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 78 km (48 mi).

1980 February 16 - 20:30 GMT - San Marco -. Astrobee D NASA 23.18UE Plasma mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 76 km (47 mi).

1980 March 22 - 10:30 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.47UH Soft XRB 1 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 217 km (134 mi).

1980 March 28 - 06:26 GMT - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee F NASA 25.59UH UM Airglow Payload Aurora mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 198 km (123 mi).

1980 May 22 - 15:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.63GS Solar Constant 3 Solar mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 249 km (154 mi).

1980 June 16 - 08:00 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.58DG NRL far ultraviolet Spectrograph Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 217 km (134 mi).

1980 June 27 - 19:01 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.46UE Plasma mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 260 km (160 mi).

1980 August 9 - 07:30 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.53GG UIT Prototype Astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 214 km (132 mi).

1980 November 1 - 06:44 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.50UG Astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 227 km (141 mi).

1981 January 20 - 04:50 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.62DG NRL far ultraviolet Spectrograph Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 209 km (129 mi).

1981 January 29 - 04:12 GMT - Fort Churchill -. Astrobee F NASA 25.60UE UM Airglow payload Aurora mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 189 km (117 mi).

1981 October 17 - White Sands -. Astrobee F NASA 25.40UH MIT X-ray? X-ray Astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1983 March 2 - 02:17 GMT - White Sands -. Astrobee F GL A31.200 Sensor Ejection System Technology test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 197 km (122 mi).

Bibliography:

McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

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Astrobee F
Credit- via Andreas Parsch