San Clemente E
Site · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Dolphin launch complex. Starstruck offshore site, 16 km east of San Clemente Island.
Related
- Country
- USA
- Launch Vehicles
- Dolphin
- Launch Sites
- San Clemente
Chronology
3 events
1984 February 6
Launch Site: San Clemente. Launch Complex: San Clemente E. Launch Vehicle: Dolphin. FAILURE: Nitrogen gas fittings had been loosened during transport. Attempts to grind an access hole to an internal bay of the rocket to tighten the fittings resulted in a fire in the electronics..- Dolphin hybrid rocket sea-launch abort. - . Nation: USA. Agency: Starstruck. The Dolphin included not only innovative hybrid propulsion technology but was also launched from a floating launch cannister at sea. This was the first attempted test of the sea-launch system, although the launch itself was aborted..
1984 March 30
Launch Site: San Clemente. Launch Complex: San Clemente E. Launch Vehicle: Dolphin. FAILURE: Seawater seeped into the electronics bay, creating a short..- Dolphin hybrid rocket sea-launch abort. - . Nation: USA. Agency: Starstruck. This was the second attempted use of the sea-launch system - the launch itself was aborted..
1984 August 3
Launch Site: San Clemente. Launch Complex: San Clemente E. Launch Vehicle: Dolphin. FAILURE: Thrust vector control failure led to vehicle swerving off course at T+14 seconds.. Failed Stage: 1.- Test mission - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: Starstruck.
Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).
The vehicle was supposed to reach an altitude of 2400 m but only made it to 700 m due to a stuck thrust vector control valve that resulted in a 45 degree deviation from vertical fligh. The errant vehicle was shut down by command from the support ship at T+14 sec. After this attempt, the project, backed entirely with private funds, folded.