Firing of an Astrobee 200 Rocket with a Multiple Ionospheric Experiment

Abstract

An Astrobee 200 rocket was instrumented with a multiple ionospheric experiment for firing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Eight probing instruments and a propagation experiment were carried for the simultaneous measurement of electron density, positive ion density, electron temperature, vehicle potential and incoming radiation. The planning, experiments, tracking, telemetry, attitude and ejection systems, field operations, data recording and reduction, and preliminary results are described. It is a good model of a complex operation illustrating the coordinated effort required between groups of different responsibility.