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Nike Asp

Launch vehicle · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Nike-Asp
Nike-Asp

American sounding rocket. Rail-launched vehicle consisting of an Asp plus a Nike booster. This product of the Cooper Development Corporation was designed to lift 27 kg to 260 km. An improved version, the Aspan 300, was also developed. The Nike-Asp was sometimes ship-launched.

While the Cajun was selected as the Deacon replacement by the USAF and NACA, the Navy selected the competing Asp motor for its sounding rocket projects. After NASA took over the Navy's sounding rockets, they fired the 30 remaining rockets and then converted to their favored Nike-Cajun configuration.

Country
USA
Stages
RM-1400, M5E1

Chronology

77 events

1957 September 26

20:00 GMT - . Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 16 km (9 mi). First Nike Asp flight..

1957 December 10

18:10 GMT - . Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 169 km (105 mi).

1958 January 8

Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 145 km (90 mi).

1958 January 9

15:35 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test / solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi).

1958 July 7

23:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Mugu. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test / solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1958 July 8

23:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Mugu. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test / solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi).

1958 July 17

17:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Mugu. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test / solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi).

1958 July 25

05:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Mugu. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test / solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1958 July 29

05:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Mugu. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test / solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1958 September 28

19:42 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 40.0 N x 150.0 W. Launch Platform: LSD-31. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test / solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi). Nike-Asp test flight from Navy LSD Point Defiance near Puka Island reached 225 km, the highest altitude ever reached by ship-launched rocket, in preliminary test of Nike-Asp for use in IGY solar eclipse studies..

1958 October 1

19:42 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 40.0 N x 150.0 W. Launch Platform: LSD-31. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test / solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 56 km (34 mi). Launched by vessel LSD-31 during 1958 Point Defiance Expedition, Pacific Ocean..

1958 October 12

08:32 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 40.0 N x 150.0 W. Launch Platform: LSD-31. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar extreme ultraviolet and x-ray mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 222 km (137 mi). Launched by vessel LSD-31 during 1958 Point Defiance Expedition, Pacific Ocean..

1958 October 12

08:42 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 40.0 N x 150.0 W. Launch Platform: LSD-31. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar extreme ultraviolet and x-ray mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 236 km (146 mi). Launched by vessel LSD-31 during 1958 Point Defiance Expedition, Pacific Ocean..

1958 October 12

08:43 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 40.0 N x 150.0 W. Launch Platform: LSD-31. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar extreme ultraviolet and x-ray mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 242 km (150 mi). Launched by vessel LSD-31 during 1958 Point Defiance Expedition, Pacific Ocean..

1958 October 12

08:52 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 40.0 N x 150.0 W. Launch Platform: LSD-31. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar extreme ultraviolet and x-ray mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 240 km (140 mi). Launched by vessel LSD-31 during 1958 Point Defiance Expedition, Pacific Ocean..

1958 October 12

09:10 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 40.0 N x 150.0 W. Launch Platform: LSD-31. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar extreme ultraviolet and x-ray mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 88 km (54 mi). Five Nike-Asps were salvo-launched from the LSD-31 during a solar eclipse on the 1958 Point Defiance Expedition, Pacific Ocean..

1958 October 13

19:40 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 40.0 N x 150.0 W. Launch Platform: LSD-31. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi). Misfired on the day of the eclipse. Launched a day later by vessel LSD-31 during 1958 Point Defiance Expedition, Pacific Ocean..

1958 October 22

14:22 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1959 July 14

17:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LC-A. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar x-ray mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1959 July 17

17:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LC-A. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Solar mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1959 July 24

16:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LC-A. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 227 km (141 mi).

1959 August 7

17:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LC-A. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar x-ray mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi).

1959 August 14

16:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LC-A. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar x-ray mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 237 km (147 mi).

1959 August 17

09:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 236 km (146 mi). NIKE-ASP sounding rocket provided geophysical information on wind activity between 80 and 300 km high was launched successfully from NASA Wallops Station..

1959 August 19

00:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).

1959 August 22

02:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LC-A. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1959 August 24

22:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LC-A. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1959 August 28

16:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LC-A. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar x-ray mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 214 km (132 mi).

1959 August 31

22:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LC-A. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Sunflare II Solar x-ray / solar mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1959 September 1

01:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LC-A. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1959 September 1

19:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LC-A. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Ionosphere / plasma / solar mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).

1959 September 2

00:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LC-A. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1959 November 18

19:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 206 km (128 mi).

1959 November 18

22:17 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). Nike-Asp sounding rocket fired from NASA Wallops Station emitted sodium vapor at 80 km to 250 km altitude, revealing powerful windshear effects..

1959 November 19

10:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 255 km (158 mi). Second sodium-vapor-trail experiment in Nike-Asp launch from Wallops Island was not successful..

1959 November 20

10:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 236 km (146 mi).

1960 March 1

22:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 212 km (131 mi).

1960 March 3

22:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 212 km (131 mi).

1960 March 17

01:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Dumbbell / Ion sphere Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).

1960 April 27

21:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi).

1960 May 24

08:57 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi).

1960 May 25

00:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 199 km (123 mi).

1960 May 25

22:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 193 km (119 mi).

1960 June 27

Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1960 June 27

19:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • NAsp-III Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 170 km (100 mi).

1960 June 28

05:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • NAsp-II Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 195 km (121 mi).

1960 August 9

20:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 26 km (16 mi).

1960 August 16

01:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Firefly ARLENE Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 104 km (64 mi).

1960 August 18

01:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1960 August 18

10:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1960 August 22

17:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Langmuir Probe Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 23 km (14 mi).

1960 August 25

01:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Firefly Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1960 August 26

01:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Firefly Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1960 August 30

Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Firefly Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1960 September 27

22:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Lunar X-ray X-ray astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 233 km (144 mi).

1960 November 3

21:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 193 km (119 mi).

1961 January 17

21:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 209 km (129 mi).

1961 March 1

15:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • VLF Propagation Solar extreme ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1961 April 19

09:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 164 km (101 mi).

1961 April 19

18:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Salto di Quirra. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Aeronomy mission - . Nation: Italy. Agency: CRS. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1961 April 20

03:46 GMT - . Launch Site: Salto di Quirra. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Aeronomy mission - . Nation: Italy. Agency: CRS. Apogee: 190 km (110 mi).

1961 April 20

18:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Salto di Quirra. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Aeronomy mission - . Nation: Italy. Agency: CRS. Apogee: 188 km (116 mi).

1961 April 20

18:43 GMT - . Launch Site: Salto di Quirra. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Aeronomy mission - . Nation: Italy. Agency: CRS. Apogee: 190 km (110 mi).

1961 April 21

00:12 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 180 km (110 mi).

1961 April 21

09:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1961 April 21

09:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 165 km (102 mi).

1961 August 28

17:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • ELF D-region Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1961 September 7

18:17 GMT - . Launch Site: Salto di Quirra. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Aeronomy mission - . Nation: Italy. Agency: CRS. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1961 September 16

10:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 27 km (16 mi).

1961 September 16

21:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 208 km (129 mi).

1961 September 17

10:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 273 km (169 mi).

1962 April 17

09:43 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 201 km (124 mi).

1962 June 7

00:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 162 km (100 mi).

1962 June 7

08:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 34 km (21 mi).

1962 June 27

14:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1962 June 28

00:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.
  • Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1963 February 18

23:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Sodium release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 25 km (15 mi). Final Nike Asp flight..