MERA

Russian sounding rocket. Two-stage small meteorological sounding rocket, consisting of two identical solid rocket motors in tandem, stabilized by fins, topped by a payload dart with instrumentation.

After second stage burnout, the dart payload separates and continues its flight independently. A timer commands a microsonde with equipment to be ejected near apogee. The microsonde measured atmospheric parameters during descent. The dart payload had a 12 kg mass, a 63 mm x 54 mm volume, and could reach a maximum height of 85 km. The microsonde and parachute weighed 1.2 kg. The only tests were carried out at Kapustin Yar in December 1992, at which time heights of 78 km were reached.

Payload: 1.20 kg (2.60 lb) to a 85 km altitude.