Castor A

The Castor A was an Argentine sounding rocket designed in 1969 by the Instituto de Investigaciones Aeronáuticas y Espaciales (IIAE).[1][2]

Castor
FunctionSounding rocket
ManufacturerInstituto de Investigaciones Aeronáuticas y Espaciales (IIAE)
Country of originArgentina
Size
Height8 m (26 ft)
Diameter0.69 m (2 ft 3 in)
Stages2
Launch history
Launch sitesCELPA Chamical, Vice Commodore Marambio Base, Chilca
Total launches7
Success(es)6
Failure(s)1
First flightDecember 22, 1969
Last flightMarch 22, 1979
stage – First Stage
Powered by4 Canopus II
stage – Second Stage
Powered by1 Canopus II

The rocket featured a two-stage configuration, utilizing five Canopus II rockets (four in the first stage and one in the second).[1][2] It was capable of placing a 75 kg (165 lb) payload at a 400 km altitude.[1]

Throughout its operational lifespan, the Castor A was launched seven times.[1][3] It experienced one failure during one of its launches, thus achieving a success rate of approximately 83.3%.[1][3]

Launches

Castor was launched seven times:[1][3]

Date Mission Type Nation Agency Apogee Launch Site
December 22, 1969 Test mission Argentina IIAE 52 km CELPA Chamical[1][3]
December 19, 1970 Test mission Argentina IIAE 45 km CELPA Chamical[1][3]
November 22, 1973 Ion beam Ionosphere mission Germany MPE 406 km CELPA Chamical[1][3]
September 30, 1975 Ionosphere mission Germany MPE 400 km Vice Commodore Marambio Base, Antarctica[1][3]
October 3, 1975 Ionosphere mission Germany MPE 400 km Vice Commodore Marambio Base, Antarctica[1][3]
March 21, 1979, 11:49 PM Spread F Barium release mission Germany DFVLR Failure Chilca, Peru[1][3]
March 22, 1979, 11:59 PM Spread F Barium release mission Germany DFVLR 268 km Chilca, Peru[1][3]

Specifications

Images
  • First Castor (CRX-01) at CELPA Chamical
    First Castor (CRX-01) at CELPA Chamical
  • Castor launch preparations
    Castor launch preparations

References
  1. "Castor (A)". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  2. "NTI: Country Overviews: Argentina: Missile Chronology". 2006-02-19. Archived from the original on 2006-02-19. Retrieved 2023-07-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. "Castor". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
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