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Sparta (rocket)

Sparta
FunctionSounding rocket
Launch system
ManufacturerABMA/Chrysler
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height21.8 metres (72 ft)
Diameter1.78 metres (5 ft 10 in)
Mass30,000 kilograms (66,000 lb)
Stages3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass45 kilograms (99 lb)
Associated rockets
FamilyRedstone
ComparableJupiter-C
Juno I
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesWoomera Test Range LA-8
Total launches10
Success(es)9
Failure(s)1
First flight28 November 1966
Last flight29 November 1967
Type of passengers/cargoRe-entry vehicles, WRESAT
First stage – Redstone
Powered by1 A-7
Maximum thrust416 kilonewtons (94,000 lbf)
Specific impulse265 sec
Burn time155 seconds
PropellantLOX/Ethanol
Second stage – Antares-2
Powered by1 X-259
Maximum thrust93 kilonewtons (21,000 lbf)
Specific impulse293 sec
Burn time36 seconds
PropellantSolid
Third stage – BE-3 Alcyone
Powered by1 solid
Maximum thrust34 kilonewtons (7,600 lbf)
Burn time9 seconds
PropellantSolid
[edit on Wikidata]

The Sparta (or Redstone Sparta) was a three-stage rocket that launched Australia's first Earth satellite, WRESAT, on 29 November 1967.[1][2][3]

Sparta used surplus American Redstone rockets as its first stage, a Thiokol Antares 2 from Scout rocket as a second stage, and a WRE BE-3 Alcyone solid-propellant engine as a third stage.[2][3]

A first stage was recovered from the Simpson Desert in 1990 after being found in searches by explorer Dick Smith the previous year.[4]: 76–80 

Launches

Several Spartas were launched between 1966 and 1967 from Woomera Test Range LA8 in Woomera, South Australia as part of a joint United States–United Kingdom–Australian research program aimed at understanding re-entry phenomena, and the US donated a spare for the scientific satellite launch into polar orbit.[5][2][3]

The first launch was a failure, while the rest were successful.[3]

Sparta launches[2][3]
Date Mission Description Nation Agency Apogee (km)
1966 Nov 28 Sparta SV-1 (re-entry vehicle) US US Army 90
1966 Dec 13 Sparta SV-2 (re-entry vehicle) US US Army 90
1967 Apr 20 Sparta SV-3 (re-entry vehicle) US US Army 90
1967 Jul 4 Sparta SV-4 (re-entry vehicle) US US Army 90
1967 Jul 24 Sparta SV-5 (re-entry vehicle) US US Army 90
1967 Aug 17 Sparta SV-6 (re-entry vehicle) US US Army 90
1967 Sep 15 Sparta SV-7 (re-entry vehicle) US US Army 91
1967 Oct 11 Sparta SV-8 (re-entry vehicle) US US Army 137
1967 Oct 31 Sparta SV-9 (re-entry vehicle) US US Army 111
1967 Nov 29 WRESAT (satellite) Australia WRE 1252
  • Redstone-Sparta at Woomera LA8
    Redstone-Sparta at Woomera LA8
  • Preparation for launch of Redstone-Sparta CC-2029 at Woomera LA8
    Preparation for launch of Redstone-Sparta CC-2029 at Woomera LA8
  • Preparation for launch of Redstone-Sparta CC-2029 at Woomera LA8
    Preparation for launch of Redstone-Sparta CC-2029 at Woomera LA8
  • Launch of Redstone-Sparta CC-2029 with WRESAT satellite (November 29, 1967)
    Launch of Redstone-Sparta CC-2029 with WRESAT satellite (November 29, 1967)
  • Launch of Redstone-Sparta CC-2029 with WRESAT satellite (November 29, 1967)
    Launch of Redstone-Sparta CC-2029 with WRESAT satellite (November 29, 1967)

References

  1. ^ Wade, Mark. "Redstone". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2024-02-07.
  2. ^ a b c d Wade, Mark. "SPARTA". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  3. ^ a b c d e Krebs, Gunter D. "Redstone with solid fuel upper stage". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  4. ^ Dougherty, Kerrie. "Retrieving Woomera's heritage: recovering lost examples of the material culture of Australian space activities" (PDF). Artefacts: Studies in the History of Science and Technology. Vol. 6. p. 80. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-10-11. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  5. ^ LePage, Andrew J. (May 2, 2011). "Old Reliable: The story of the Redstone". spacereview.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
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