Nativ Credit: © Mark Wade |
AKA: RTV-A-3. Status: Retired 1948. First Launch: 1948-05-26. Last Launch: 1948-11-01. Number: 4 . Thrust: 11.60 kN (2,608 lbf). Gross mass: 600 kg (1,320 lb). Height: 4.10 m (13.40 ft). Diameter: 0.46 m (1.50 ft). Span: 1.31 m (4.29 ft). Apogee: 19 km (11 mi).
There is barely any information on what this rocket was like, and even very inconsistent information on the flight series. One source says it had the configuration of the German Wasserfall, but photographs and a North American drawing shows it to be unwinged, with larger aft tail surfaces like the A9. It is not even known what kind of rocket engine powered the vehicle (perhaps a version of the 14.7 kN test engine developed by North American and used in tests in the company parking lot). One source speaks of six launches, another of three, but the North American chart mentions four. It seems that there were perhaps six launch attempts, two of which never made it very far off the pad, three that made it some distance aloft, and only one that was considered somewhat successful (reaching Mach 2.23 and an altitude of 18 km).
Development Cost $: 679.800 million in 1956 dollars. Maximum range: 65 km (40 mi). Total Number Built: 7.
First launch attempt of MX-770 technology demonstrator. Seven rockets were built in total. There is very inconsistent information on the flight series. One source speaks of six launches, another of four, and a third of three. It seems that there were six launch attempts, three of which never made it very far off the pad, two made it some distance aloft, and only one was considered somewhat successful (reaching Mach 2.23 and an altitude of 18 km).