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Encyclopedia entry

Terrier Improved Orion

Stage · USA

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

Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Terrier + 1 x Improved Orion

The Terrier-Orion rocket system was a two stage spin stabilized rocket system which utilized a Terrier MK 12 Mod 1 for the first stage and an Improved Orion motor for the second stage. The vehicle was typically configured with spin motors and the total weight of this configuration, excluding the payload, was approximately 1305 kg.

The Orion motor utilized a clamp-released/load-bearing tail can to interface with the Terrier motor. This was a rail-launched configuration that can be supported at most fixed and mobile launch ranges.

Payload configurations supported by this vehicle included 36 cm and bulbous 44 cm diameters. Payload weights ranging from 90 to 360 kg could achieve altitudes of approximately 200 to 80 kilometers respectively.

Available support systems include the standard 36 cm Ignition Recovery Module Assembly (IRMA), ACS systems, and nose cones of various configurations. The complete cadre of 44 cm diameter support systems was available for use with the bulbous payloads. These included fixed and deployable nose cones; fine, course, rate control, and magnetic ACS systems; separation and despin systems; and forward and aft recovery systems.

Country
USA
Agency
Convair

Chronology

80 events

1994 April 5

18:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 127 km (78 mi).

1995 June 30

18:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1996 November 17

13:30 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC36. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.

1997 August 8

13:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion. FAILURE: Failure.
  • COORS / ROCKI (CRISTA) Ionosphere / aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1997 September 2

07:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Anna Plains. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • DUNDEE 1 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1997 September 5

04:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Anna Plains. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • DUNDEE 2 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1997 September 10

02:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Anna Plains. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • DUNDEE 3 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1997 September 11

20:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Anna Plains. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • DUNDEE 4 (MSX) Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1997 November 5

20:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Andoya. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.

1998 February 25

07:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • EDDY Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 128 km (79 mi).

1999 December 17

17:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • MG. Pool Boiling Microgravity mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 168 km (104 mi).

2000 October 13

14:45 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.

2003 March 25

10:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Complex: Poker Flat LC3. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • HEX V Aurora / chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 180 km (110 mi).

2003 March 27

12:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Complex: Poker Flat LC5. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion. FAILURE: Failure.
  • JOULE Aurora / chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

2003 March 27

12:13 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Complex: Poker Flat LC2. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • JOULE Aurora / chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 180 km (110 mi).

2003 June 30

03:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Release M / Dtr Aeronomy / Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 202 km (125 mi).

2003 June 30

05:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Release M / Dtr Aeronomy / Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 206 km (128 mi).

2003 June 30

07:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Release M / Dtr Aeronomy / Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 204 km (126 mi).

2003 July 15

07:02 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • CWAS Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2003 July 15

07:32 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • CWAS Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2003 October 3

14:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • SPIRIT 2 Aeronomy / Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2004 August 7

09:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • EQUIS II Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2004 August 7

09:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • EQUIS II Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2004 August 15

08:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • EQUIS II Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2004 August 15

08:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion. FAILURE: Failure.
  • EQUIS II Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

2004 August 27

22:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • EQUIS II Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2004 September 7

23:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • EQUIS II Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2004 September 17

08:12 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • EQUIS II Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2004 September 20

23:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • EQUIS II Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2005 May 5

09:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • MCAFT-1 / IBSi Missile defense / biology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 156 km (96 mi).

2005 November 14

20:30 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, NAWC. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2005 November 18

20:13 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, NAWC. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2006 April 5

12:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Descent imagery / RSO Planetary test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 76 km (47 mi).

2006 May 22

09:30 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.

2006 June 5

16:05 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, NAWC. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2006 June 7

22:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Barking Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, NAWC. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2006 June 8

16:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • DUNDEE target Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, NAWC. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2006 June 23

23:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Barking Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • MDA TRACKEX Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, NAWC. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2006 July 1

06:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Andoya. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • ESPRIT (SPIRIT 3) Ionosphere / plasma mission - . Nation: Norway. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

2007 January 19

12:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • JOULE II Aurora mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

2007 January 19

12:46 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • JOULE II Aurora mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

2007 June 21

05:38 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Star tracker / ACS test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2007 August 3

22:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Andoya. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • MASS 1 (NLCs) Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2007 August 6

22:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Andoya. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • MASS 2 (NLCs) Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

2007 September 6

21:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.

2009 February 18

09:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.076 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). Atmosphere.

2009 February 18

10:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.078 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). Atmosphere.

2009 February 18

10:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.079 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). Atmosphere.

2009 February 18

11:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.077 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). Atmosphere.

2010 February 9

09:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.

2010 March 22

Launch Site: Woomera. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • HiFire-1 - . Nation: Australia. Agency: DSTO. Apogee: 288 km (178 mi). Hypersonic test.

2010 June 24

10:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA2. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.088UO - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Educational payload.

2010 September 21

13:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.082NP - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). Carried SubTEC-III technology experiment..

2010 December 6

17:30 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.087NT - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). JPL technology mission to refine methods for planetary lander terrain recognition..

2011 June 10

11:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.096GT - . Nation: USA. Technology mission. Carried high data rate X-band telemetry system and an 0.4-meter SMART microsatellite bus..

2011 June 23

10:17 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.095UO - . Nation: USA. Educational mission..

2011 July 10

14:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA2. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.090GE - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 158 km (98 mi). Ionosphere mission..

2011 July 21

11:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.092GO - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi). Education mission..

2011 October 11

21:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Andoya. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.094UE - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). Atmospheric sciences mission. CHAMPS flights, one nighttime and one daytime, to study meteoritic dust in the upper atmosphere..

2011 October 13

13:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Andoya. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.093UE - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). Atmospheric sciences mission. CHAMPS flights, one nighttime and one daytime, to study meteoritic dust in the upper atmosphere..

2012 March 27

09:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.097UE - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 157 km (97 mi). Atmospheric science payload..

2012 May 10

06:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Barking Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • FTM-16/2A Target - . Nation: USA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). ABM Target.

2012 June 21

10:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.101UO - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 117 km (72 mi). Education mission..

2013 February 15

Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.104GT - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). Technology.

2013 May 1

07:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.100DR - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 189 km (117 mi). Ionosphere.

2013 May 9

07:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Pad: Roi-Namur. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.102DR - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 188 km (116 mi). Ionospheric payload.

2013 June 20

09:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA1 AML. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 40.106UO - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 118 km (73 mi). RockOn 2013 Education mission.

2014 January 15

09:09 GMT - . LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • FTX-18 target - . Nation: USA. ABM Target.

2014 January 15

09:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • FTX-18 target - . Nation: USA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). ABM Target.

2014 January 15

09:09 GMT - . LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • FTX-18 target - . Nation: USA. ABM Target.

2014 June 26

11:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • RockOn 2014 - . Nation: USA. Agency: GSFC. Apogee: 118 km (73 mi).

2015 June 25

10:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.113UO - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 118 km (73 mi). Educational launch..

2016 March 7

12:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.114NP - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi). Technology mission. Impacted in Atlantic Ocean..

2016 June 24

10:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • RockOn/Rocksat-C - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 119 km (73 mi). Education mission. Impacted in Atlantic Ocean..

2016 July 16

04:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • ROTEX-T - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 182 km (113 mi). Hypersonic vehicle test mission. Impacted in ESRANGE..

2017 June 22

09:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.121UO - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 118 km (73 mi). Education mission. Impacted Atlantic..

2018 January 26

14:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Super Soaker 1 - . Nation: Canada. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi). Aeronomy mission. Impacted Alaska..

2018 January 26

14:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Super Soaker 2 - . Nation: Canada. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Aeronomy mission. Impacted Alaska..

2018 January 26

14:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • Super Soaker 3 - . Nation: Canada. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi). Aeronomy mission. Impacted Alaska..

2018 June 21

09:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • NASA 41.125UO - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Education mission. Impacted Atlantic..