Tonopah
Tonopah
Credit - © Mark Wade
Type: Suborbital Launch Site. Operator: USA. Country: USA. Latitude: 37°45' N. Longitude: 116°45' W.

Sounding rocket and test vehicle launch site. Conducted launches in support of US nuclear weapons development programmes from 1957 to present.

Launch Pads
  • Name: HAD Launcher No. 4. Latitude: 37.7500 N. Longitude: 116.7500 W. Launch Pads: 1. Nike Tomahawk.
Tonopah Chronology and Launch Log
  • 1957 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. Doorknob 1 Apogee: 84 km (52 mi).

  • 1957 Apr - Test 17 (last research and development) mission Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. Doorknob 1 Apogee: 80 km (49 mi).

  • 1957 Jun - Plumbob test launch Launch Vehicle: Asp. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).

  • 1957 July 27 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. Doorknob 1 Apogee: 24 km (14 mi).

  • 1958 November 19 20:32 - RW-104 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 78 km (48 mi).

  • 1958 November 20 02:25 - RW-105 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 76 km (47 mi).

  • 1958 November 20 14:10 - RW-107 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 84 km (52 mi).

  • 1958 November 20 08:18 - RW-106 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

  • 1958 December 15 21:37 - RW-108 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi).

  • 1958 December 16 08:49 - RW-110 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

  • 1958 December 16 03:25 - RW-109 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

  • 1958 December 16 14:47 - RW-111 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 84 km (52 mi).

  • 1959 - Cleansweep I Test mission Launch Vehicle: Asp. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).

  • 1959 January 27 20:35 - RW-112 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

  • 1959 January 28 07:28 - RW-114 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 82 km (50 mi).

  • 1959 January 31 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. Doorknob 1 Apogee: 24 km (14 mi).

  • 1959 March 12 18:45 - RW-118 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 85 km (52 mi).

  • 1959 March 13 00:38 - RW-119 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 84 km (52 mi).

  • 1959 March 13 12:30 - RW-121 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

  • 1959 March 13 07:30 - RW-120 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 69 km (42 mi).

  • 1959 April 16 17:00 - RW-123 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 79 km (49 mi).

  • 1959 April 16 11:09 - RW-122 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 66 km (41 mi).

  • 1959 April 16 23:10 - RW-124 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

  • 1959 April 17 05:00 - RW-125 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 82 km (50 mi).

  • 1959 May 5 08:55 - RW-126 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 81 km (50 mi).

  • 1959 May 5 23:20 - RW-127 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 82 km (50 mi).

  • 1959 June 17 17:00 - RW-128 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 81 km (50 mi).

  • 1959 June 18 07:32 - RW-130 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi).

  • 1959 June 18 13:00 - RW-131 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 82 km (50 mi).

  • 1959 June 18 01:00 - RW-129 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 81 km (50 mi).

  • 1959 July 14 21:00 - RW-132 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 76 km (47 mi).

  • 1959 July 15 15:34 - RW-133 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 78 km (48 mi).

  • 1959 July 15 15:13 - RW-135 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

  • 1959 July 15 09:15 - RW-134 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 81 km (50 mi).

  • 1959 August 26 19:35 - RW-138 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 79 km (49 mi).

  • 1959 August 26 13:58 - RW-137 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 81 km (50 mi).

  • 1959 August 27 02:00 - RW-139 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi).

  • 1959 August 27 06:42 - RW-140 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi).

  • 1959 September 26 13:00 - RW-143 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 77 km (47 mi).

  • 1959 September 26 07:00 - RW-141 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 72 km (44 mi).

  • 1959 September 26 20:45 - RW-144 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 71 km (44 mi).

  • 1959 November 4 01:23 - RW-146 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 78 km (48 mi).

  • 1959 November 5 01:10 - RW-147 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 84 km (52 mi).

  • 1959 November 6 01:13 - RW-148 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

  • 1961 Jan? - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Kisha Judi. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1963 January 23 - Tracking Flare Test mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

  • 1963 January 23 - Tracking Flare Test mission Launch Vehicle: Deacon Arrow II. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

  • 1963 June 12 - Seagull (IQSY) Test mission Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Tomahawk Sandia 152-1 Apogee: 105 km (65 mi). Seagull (IQSY). Technology test of NASA version.

  • 1963 October 29 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Hopi Dart. Hopi Dart F14 Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

  • 1963 October 29 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Hopi Dart. Hopi Dart F12 Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

  • 1963 October 29 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Hopi Dart. Hopi Dart F13 Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

  • 1964 January 27 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. Nike Tomahawk Sandia 152-23 Apogee: 302 km (187 mi).

  • 1964 March 10 - Tomahawk-Dart Test/Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Tomahawk Sandia 152-5 Apogee: 105 km (65 mi).

  • 1964 August 25 00:30 - Terihawk Aeronomy mission? Launch Vehicle: Terrier Tomahawk. Failure. Terrier Tomahawk Sandia 152-68 Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).

  • 1964 October 20 - Test/Aeronomy mission? Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Failure. Tomahawk Sandia 152-69

  • 1965 January 20 - Magnus Stovepipe Test/Aeronomy mission? Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Tomahawk Sandia 152-14 Apogee: 106 km (65 mi).

  • 1965 February 2 - Magnus Test/Aeronomy mission? Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Tomahawk Sandia 152-17 Apogee: 106 km (65 mi).

  • 1965 February 3 - Magnus Test/Aeronomy mission? Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Tomahawk Sandia 152-47 Apogee: 106 km (65 mi).

  • 1966 April 5 - Despin Test mission Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Failure. Tomahawk Sandia 152-41

  • 1966 April 21 02:10 - Sandia 154-75 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi).

  • 1966 August 10 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Sandhawk. Failure. Sandhawk Sandia 281-1

  • 1966 September 15 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Sandhawk. Failure. Sandhawk Sandia 281-2

  • 1967 January 17 - Test/Aeronomy mission? Launch Vehicle: Sandhawk. Sandhawk Sandia 281-3 Apogee: 188 km (116 mi).

  • 1967 July 27 - Ionosphere mission Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Tomahawk Sandia 152-96 Apogee: 99 km (61 mi).

  • 1967 September 7 20:34 - LRL BOX-8a X-ray Astronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. Nike Tomahawk Sandia 152-88 Apogee: 187 km (116 mi).

  • 1967 December 6 15:41 - LRL BOX-13 X-ray Astronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Tomahawk Sandia 152-110 Apogee: 120 km (70 mi).

  • 1968 August 23 04:48 - LRL AXE-2 X-ray Astronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Sandhawk. Sandhawk Sandia 152-? Apogee: 187 km (116 mi).

  • 1969 September 11 23:44 - LRL RCS-3 (Daisy III) Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. Nike Tomahawk Sandia 152-109 LC: HAD4. Apogee: 165 km (102 mi).

  • 1969 November 18 21:32 - LRL ACS-5 Solar X-ray mission Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. Nike Tomahawk Sandia 152-135 Apogee: 174 km (108 mi).

  • 1970 January 13 04:32 - LRL ROX-3 X-ray Astronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. Nike Tomahawk Sandia 152-137 Apogee: 180 km (110 mi).

  • 1972 June 2 06:16 - LRL ACS-1C X-ray Astronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. Nike Tomahawk Sandia 152-185 LC: HAD4. Apogee: 175 km (108 mi).

  • 1973 August 15 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Tater. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

  • 1975 February 27 - FLAME test mission Launch Vehicle: Pedro Recruit. Pedro Recruit FLAME 2 Apogee: 17 km (10 mi).

  • 1975 March 27 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Nike. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

  • 1975 March 28 - FLAME test mission Launch Vehicle: Pedro Recruit. Pedro Recruit FLAME 3 Apogee: 17 km (10 mi).

  • 1975 April 18 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Nike. Failure.

  • 1975 April 18 - FLAME test mission Launch Vehicle: Pedro Recruit. Failure. Pedro Recruit FLAME 4 Apogee: 17 km (10 mi).

  • 1975 June 3 - FLAME test mission Launch Vehicle: Pedro Recruit. Pedro Recruit FLAME 5 Apogee: 17 km (10 mi).

  • 1975 June 4 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: HJ. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

  • 1975 June 4 - FLAME test mission Launch Vehicle: Pedro Recruit. Failure. Pedro Recruit FLAME 6 Apogee: 17 km (10 mi).

  • 1975 August 27 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: HJ. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

  • 1975 September 3 10:30 - LRL ACS-1D X-ray Astronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. Nike Tomahawk Sandia 152-? Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

  • 1975 September 23 10:02 - LRL ACS-1E X-ray Astronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. Nike Tomahawk Sandia 152-? Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

  • 1975 October 29 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Nike. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

  • 1975 October 31 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Nike. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

  • 1976 January 22 - FLAME test mission Launch Vehicle: Pedro Recruit. Pedro Recruit FLAME 7 Apogee: 17 km (10 mi).

  • 1976 January 26 - FLAME test mission Launch Vehicle: Pedro Recruit. Pedro Recruit FLAME 8 Apogee: 17 km (10 mi).

  • 1976 July 22 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Malemute. Malemute Sandia 497-006 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1976 July 24 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Malemute. Malemute Sandia 497-007 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1979 April 19 - Malemute II Test mission Launch Vehicle: Malemute. Malemute Sandia 497-009 Apogee: 165 km (102 mi).

Bibliography and Further Reading
  • McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2007 except where otherwise noted.
  
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