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Sounding rocket. Country: USA. Status: Retired 1977.

The Sandhawk motor was developed for Sandia primarily for use in multi-stage rockets launched in support of Atomic Energy Agency activities. It was however flown as a single-stage vehicle in initial tests of the motor and some subsequent scientific mission.s

Manufacturer: Sandia. Launches: 37. Failures: 2. Success Rate: 94.59%. First Launch Date: 1966-08-10. Last Launch Date: 1977-09-12. Launch data is: complete. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 80.000 kN (17,984 lbf). Total Mass: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Core Diameter: 0.33 m (1.08 ft). Total Length: 7.53 m (24.70 ft). Span: 1.35 m (4.42 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Sandhawk Tomahawk-1. Gross Mass: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Empty Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Motor: 1 x TE-473. Thrust (vac): 90.000 kN (20,232 lbf). Burn time: 14 sec. Length: 5.10 m (16.70 ft). Diameter: 0.33 m (1.08 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Version:

Terrier Sandhawk.

Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Terrier + 1 x Sandhawk

Variants built with 9, 13, and 17 inch diameter payloads. Flew missions on atmospheric research in support of nuclear tests as well as astronomical science missions.

Launches: 27. First Launch Date: 1967-09-21. Last Launch Date: 1977-09-12. Payload: 91 kg (200 lb). Apogee: 430 km (260 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 258.000 kN (58,000 lbf). Core Diameter: 0.46 m (1.50 ft). Total Length: 11.40 m (37.40 ft). Span: 1.58 m (5.17 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Black Brant X-1. Gross Mass: 900 kg (1,980 lb). Empty Mass: 322 kg (709 lb). Motor: 1 x X-256. Thrust (vac): 257.500 kN (57,888 lbf). Burn time: 4.40 sec. Length: 3.90 m (12.70 ft). Diameter: 0.46 m (1.50 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage2: 1 x Sandhawk Tomahawk-1. Gross Mass: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Empty Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Motor: 1 x TE-473. Thrust (vac): 90.000 kN (20,232 lbf). Burn time: 14 sec. Length: 5.10 m (16.70 ft). Diameter: 0.33 m (1.08 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Version:

Hydra Sandhawk.

Launches: 2. First Launch Date: 1971-11-18. Last Launch Date: 1973-04-26. Apogee: 280 km (170 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 1,200 kg (2,600 lb). Core Diameter: 0.50 m (1.64 ft). Total Length: 10.00 m (32.00 ft).

  • Stage2: 1 x Sandhawk Tomahawk-1. Gross Mass: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Empty Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Motor: 1 x TE-473. Thrust (vac): 90.000 kN (20,232 lbf). Burn time: 14 sec. Length: 5.10 m (16.70 ft). Diameter: 0.33 m (1.08 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Version:

NOTS 401A Sandhawk. Test vehicle.

Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x NOTS 401A + 1 x Sandhawk

Apogee: 280 km (170 mi). Total Mass: 1,200 kg (2,600 lb). Core Diameter: 0.50 m (1.64 ft). Total Length: 10.00 m (32.00 ft).

Sandhawk Chronology

1966 August 10 - Tonopah -. Sandhawk Sandia 281-1 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1966 September 15 - Tonopah -. Sandhawk Sandia 281-2 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1967 January 17 - Tonopah -. Sandhawk Sandia 281-3 Test / aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 188 km (116 mi).

1967 May 11 - Barking Sands -. Sandhawk Sandia 281-5 Dart Test / aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 116 km (72 mi).

1967 May 11 - Barking Sands -. Sandhawk Sandia 281-4 Test / aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 151 km (93 mi).

1967 September 21 - Johnston Island -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-7 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 383 km (237 mi). AEC galactic astronomy payload - detected cosmic soft x-rays.

1967 September 27 - Johnston Island -. Sandhawk Sandia 281-6 Dart Test / aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 104 km (64 mi).

1967 October 3 - Johnston Island -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-8 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 423 km (262 mi).

1968 August 23 - 04:48 GMT - Tonopah -. Sandhawk Sandia 152-? LRL AXE-2 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 187 km (116 mi).

1968 October 29 - 11:32 GMT - Johnston Island UL6. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-10 LRL ACS-3 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 320 km (190 mi).

1968 November 7 - 06:45 GMT - Johnston Island UL6. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-11 LRL ACS-2 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 320 km (190 mi).

1969 March 20 - 05:37 GMT - Poker Flat -. Terrier Sandhawk SECEDE R8 HEMLOCK Ba Aeronomy / Fields mission Agency: ARPA. Apogee: 176 km (109 mi).

1970 May 13 - 08:03 GMT - Barking Sands -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-14 LRL ACS-4 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 306 km (190 mi).

1970 May 15 - 11:14 GMT - Barking Sands -. Far infrared Radiometer Infrared astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1970 May 16 - 05:45 GMT - Barking Sands -. Terrier Sandhawk SECEDE R9 ROADRUNNER Infrared Astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 208 km (129 mi).

1970 May 26 - 05:50 GMT - Barking Sands -. Terrier Sandhawk SECEDE R10 SAPSUCKER Aeronomy / Fields mission Agency: ARPA. Apogee: 204 km (126 mi).

1970 June 6 - 05:50 GMT - Barking Sands -. Terrier Sandhawk SECEDE R11 TITMOUSE Aeronomy / Fields mission Agency: ARPA. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).

1971 May 26 - 09:47 GMT - Barking Sands -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-19? LRL ACS-4B X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1971 May 29 - 10:48 GMT - Barking Sands -. Infrared astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 340 km (210 mi).

1971 October 23 - 12:25 GMT - Barking Sands LC19. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-? LRL ACS-4C X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 303 km (188 mi).

1971 November 18 - 07:04 GMT - Pacific Ocean -. LRL BOX-17 Test / x-ray astronomy mission Agency: USN NMC. Apogee: 267 km (165 mi). Launched at Pacific Ocean Launch Site 7 LP1 - - Latitude: 27.38 N - Longitude: 125.00 W.

1972 March 16 - 09:54 GMT - Poker Flat -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-24 CARIBOU VI Aurora mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1972 March 17 - 09:39 GMT - Poker Flat -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-25 Aurora mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Solar eclipse observations.

1972 May 17 - 01:12 GMT - Barking Sands -. Infrared astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 430 km (260 mi).

1972 July 10 - 18:51 GMT - Poker Flat -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-28 Solar eclipse mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1972 October 20 - 12:17 GMT - Barking Sands LC14. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-29 LRL ACS-4D X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 310 km (190 mi).

1973 April 26 - 06:20 GMT - Pacific Ocean -. LRL BOX-18 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: USN NMC. Apogee: 262 km (162 mi).

1973 June 23 - 10:45 GMT - Barking Sands LC12. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-32 LRL ACS-4E (ACS-9) X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 297 km (184 mi).

1974 June 20 - 05:11 GMT - Lancelin -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia Eclipse Solar ultraviolet eclipse mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 320 km (190 mi). Eclipse observations - Launched from Lancelin, Perth, W. Australia - Latitude: 31.01 S, Longitude:115.19 E.

1974 June 20 - 05:11 GMT - Lancelin -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia Eclipse Solar ultraviolet eclipse mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 320 km (190 mi). Eclipse observations - Launched from Lancelin, Perth, W. Australia - Latitude: 31.01 S, Longitude:115.19 E.

1974 June 30 - 11:04 GMT - Barking Sands -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-? LRL ACS-4F X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 305 km (189 mi).

1974 November 10 - 12:09 GMT - Barking Sands -. Sandhawk Sandia 281-3 LEINAX III X-ray Astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 180 km (110 mi). LEINAX III - USAF plasma physics experiment. Detected cosmic soft x-rays.

1975 May 9 - Barking Sands -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia Monitoring mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 406 km (252 mi).

1976 May 29 - 09:49 GMT - Barking Sands -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia LEINAX IV X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 271 km (168 mi).

1976 June 6 - 08:44 GMT - Barking Sands -. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 430 km (260 mi).

1977 September 2 - 05:50 GMT - Barking Sands -. Terrier Sandhawk Lagopedo Uno Active ionosphere mission Agency: LASL. Apogee: 261 km (162 mi).

1977 September 12 - 06:00 GMT - Barking Sands -. Terrier Sandhawk Lagopedo Dos Active ionosphere mission Agency: LASL. Apogee: 286 km (177 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.
  • Alway, Peter, Rockets of the World, Saturn Press, Ann Arbor, 1995.
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