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Iris
Sounding rocket. Country: USA. Status: Retired 1968.

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

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 seperating 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.

Manufacturer: NRL. Launches: 12. Failures: 3. Success Rate: 75.00%. First Launch Date: 1960-07-22. Last Launch Date: 1968-11-03. Launch data is: complete. Payload: 45 kg (99 lb). Apogee: 320 km (190 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 17.000 kN (3,821 lbf). Total Mass: 602 kg (1,327 lb). Core Diameter: 0.31 m (1.01 ft). Total Length: 5.00 m (16.40 ft).

  • Stage0: 1 x Iris-0. Gross Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Empty Mass: 59 kg (130 lb). Motor: 7 x MARC 14B1. Thrust (vac): 84.000 kN (18,883 lbf). Burn time: 0.80 sec. Length: 0.80 m (2.62 ft). Diameter: 0.30 m (0.98 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage1: 1 x Hydra-Iris-1. Gross Mass: 500 kg (1,100 lb). Empty Mass: 112 kg (246 lb). Motor: 1 x MARC 13A1. Thrust (vac): 17.000 kN (3,821 lbf). Burn time: 52 sec. Length: 4.00 m (13.10 ft). Diameter: 0.30 m (0.98 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Version:

Hydra-Iris.

Two stage underwater-launched vehicle consisting of 3 x Sparrow motors in the booster stage and an Iris upper stage.

Joint US Navy-Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory project.

Manufacturer: NAWC, Livermore. Launches: 8. Failures: 2. First Launch Date: 1964-08-10. Last Launch Date: 1968-11-03. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 105.000 kN (23,604 lbf). Total Mass: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Core Diameter: 0.61 m (2.00 ft). Total Length: 6.50 m (21.30 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Hydra-Iris-1. Gross Mass: 500 kg (1,100 lb). Empty Mass: 112 kg (246 lb). Motor: 1 x MARC 13A1. Thrust (vac): 17.000 kN (3,821 lbf). Burn time: 52 sec. Length: 4.00 m (13.10 ft). Diameter: 0.30 m (0.98 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Iris Chronology

1960 July 22 - 12:05 GMT - Wallops Island LA1. Iris NASA 5.01GT Aeronomy / test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 224 km (139 mi). First flight of NASA's Iris sounding rocket successful.

1960 October 18 - 14:17 GMT - Wallops Island LA1. Iris NASA 5.02GT Aeronomy / test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi). Second Iris rocket rose to 225 km with a payload of 56 kg from Wallops Station.

1961 January 19 - 12:42 GMT - Wallops Island LA1. Iris NASA 5.03GT FAILURE: Failure. Aeronomy / test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 138 km (85 mi).

1962 May 3 - 18:03 GMT - Wallops Island LA1. Iris NASA 5.04GA Structure Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 113 km (70 mi).

1964 August 10 - Pacific Ocean -. Hydra-Iris GSP-1 LRL GSP-1 Magnetospheric mission Agency: USN NMC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1965 January 7 - Atlantic Ocean -. Hydra-Iris SAP-1 FAILURE: Failure. LRL SAP-1 Ionosphere/Magnesium release mission Agency: USN NMC. Apogee: 2.00 km (1.20 mi).

1965 January 26 - 09:40 GMT - Atlantic Ocean -. Hydra-Iris SAP-2 LRL SAP-2 (SAA) Ionosphere / magnetosphere mission Agency: USN NMC. Apogee: 289 km (179 mi).

1965 October 28 - 18:01 GMT - Pacific Ocean -. Hydra-Iris BOX-2 LRL BOX-2 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: USN NMC. Apogee: 194 km (120 mi).

1966 May 31 - 17:16 GMT - Pacific Ocean -. Hydra-Iris BOX-4 LRL BOX-4 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: USN NMC. Apogee: 188 km (116 mi).

1966 October 30 - 17:45 GMT - Pacific Ocean -. Hydra-Iris BOX-5 FAILURE: Failure. LRL BOX-5 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: USN NMC. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi).

1968 March 20 - 19:55 GMT - Pacific Ocean -. Hydra-Iris BAR-1 LRL BAR-1 test Agency: USN NMC. Apogee: 195 km (121 mi).

1968 November 3 - 18:00 GMT - Pacific Ocean -. Hydra-Iris BOX-15 LRL BOX-15 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: USN NMC. Apogee: 227 km (141 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.
  • Emme, Eugene M, Aeronautics and Astronautics: An American Chronology of Science and Technology in the Exploration of Space 1915-1960, NASA, 1961. Web Address when accessed: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/timeline.html.
  • Alway, Peter, Rockets of the World, Saturn Press, Ann Arbor, 1995.
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