Design, Development and Flight Testing of an Instrumented Transponder Dart

摘要

The dart was designed for measuring vertical winds and temperature profiles over an altitude range of 200,000 - 70,000 feet, and to be compatible with an AN/GMD-4 system not requiring radar support. The dart is propelled by a Loki-type rocket to above 200,000 feet altitude. At apogee and transponder instrument is ejected and descends on a parachute, measuring temperature and wind. Flight tests conducted at White Sands Missile Range proved the feasibility of this system with 5 transponder instruments measuring the slant range successfully. (Author)