Astrobee

For the space robot, see Astrobee (robot).

Astrobee is the designation of series of American sounding rockets with one to three stages.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Designed by Aerojet, this family of solid-propellant rockets was conceived as a lower-cost replacement of the liquid-propellant Aerobee.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Versions

Astrobee 500

The three-stage Astrobee 500 (first stage: Genius, second stage: Alcor, third stage: Asp) has a ceiling of 1000 km, a takeoff thrust of 161 kN, a takeoff weight of 900 kg, a diameter of 0.38 m and a length of 7.80 m.[2][3] It was launched one time in 1960.[3]

• 
  Astrobee-500

Astrobee 1500

The three-stage Astrobee 1500 (first stage: Recruit, second stage: Aero jet, third stage: Alcor) has a ceiling of 1000 km, a takeoff thrust of 566 kN, a takeoff weight of 5200 kg, a diameter of 0.79 m and a length of 10.40 m.[4] It was launched ten times between 1961 and 1969.[4]

• 
  Astrobe 1500
• 
  Astrobe 1500
• 
  Astrobee 1500

Astrobee 200

The two-stage Astrobee 200 (first stage: Nike, second stage: Alcor),[11] has a ceiling of 350 km, a takeoff thrust of 161 kN, a takeoff weight of 800 kg, a diameter of 0.38 m and a length of 6.30 m. It was launched ten times between 1961 and 1966[5]

• 
  Astrobee 200

Astrobee D

The single-stage Astrobee D has a ceiling of 140 km, a takeoff thrust of 23.00 kN, a takeoff weight of 100 kg, a diameter of 0.15 m and a length of 3.90 m.[6][7][12] It was launched forty-two times between 1970 and 1980.[7]

Astrobee F

The single-stage Astrobee F has a ceiling of 375 km, a takeoff thrust of 178.00 kN, a takeoff weight of 1500 kg, a diameter of 0.38 m and a length of 11.50 m.[8][9] It was launched forty-nine times between 1972 and 1983.[9]

References

1. "Astrobee". astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
2. "Astrobee 500". astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
3. "Astrobee-500". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
4. "Astrobee 1500". astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
5. "Astrobee 200". astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
6. "Astrobee D". astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
7. "Astrobee-D". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
8. "Astrobee F". astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
9. "Astrobee-F". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
10. "Aerojet General Astrobee". www.designation-systems.net. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
11. "Astrobee-200". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
12. Bollermann, B. (May 1, 1971). "Astrobee D". Study of 30 km to 200 km meteorological rocket sounding systems. Vol. 2 - Recent advancements. NASA. pp. 104–105. NASA-CR-1790.