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Orion Hot Rod

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Gross mass: 105 kg (231 lb). Height: 1.50 m (4.90 ft). Diameter: 1.00 m (3.20 ft).

Six aluminum-encased charges, each with 1.04 kg of C4 high explosive, were ejected from the rear of the pusher plate and exploded 866 mm behind the plate over a 35 second period. An initial charge of 452 kg of gunpowder in a mortar-like launch cylinder got the craft going. The hot rod successfully achieved stable acceleration and reached an altitude of 105 m on 12 November 1959 from Point Loma California. This proved the concept of the larger nuclear-powered design.