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Orion

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Launch Vehicles
USA
Hawk family

Orion (CSHARP) [NASA]

Improved Orion (RocketSat 4) [NASA]

Orion is a small single stage, unguided, fin stabilized sounding rocket using a surplus Hawk SAM rocket motor.

Two versions of the Orion are in use: The Orion, which uses the Aerojet General M22E8 dual-thrust motor of the initial MIM-23A Hawk missile. The second version, the improved Orion uses the more powerful Aerojet General M112 dual-thrust motor of the MIM-23B I-Hawk (Improved Hawk) missile.

Three fins on the aft end of the motor provide forces for rolling up the vehicle in flight for stability. The Improved Orion is 35.5 cm in diameter and 279 cm long. The fins are nominally canted to provide a four revolutions per second spin rate at burnout. The rocket carries an 38.5 kg payload to 88 km and a 68 kg payload to 71 km when launched from sea level at an 85° launch angle. The standard payload for the Improved Orion has a principal diameter of 35.5 cm and utilizes many nose cone shapes. The normal payload length varies from 183 to 254 cm although this is not the maximum envelope. Payload diameters as small as 11.4 cm are flown on the Orion and performance characteristics are most favorable for 38 to 45 kg payloads

The Orion is also used as an upper stage in several Nike, Terrier and Taurus (Honest John) based configurations as well as in the Brazilian VS-30 Orion rocket.

Vehicle	Stage 1
Orion	Orion (M22-E8)
Improved Orion	Improved Orion (M112)

No:   TNr    Type                     Date             LS              Payload

  5     1    Orion                    29.05.1974  *    WI              NASA 30.01WT (Hawk Motor Test)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    08.11.1974  *    WI              NASA 30.02WT
xxx   xxx    Orion                    14.07.1977  *    WS              NASA 12.27GT (Parachute Test)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    02.02.1978  *    And             DLR A-O-89 (A-OR-90 Orion 1)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    13.09.1978  *    Es              DLR K-O-91 (K-OR-91)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    04.11.1979  *    WI              NASA 30.09IU
xxx   xxx    Orion                    14.07.1980  *    WI              NASA 30.03UU
xxx   xxx    Orion                    07.10.1980  *    And             NASA 30.10GU (TY2-7688)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    11.10.1980  *    And             NASA 30.11GU (TY2-7684)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    16.10.1980  *    WI              NASA 30.04UU
xxx   xxx    Orion                    18.10.1980  *    And             NASA 30.12GU
xxx   xxx    Orion                    27.02.1981  *    WI              NASA 30.07GU
xxx   xxx    Orion                    23.07.1981  *    WI              NASA 30.14UU (UM NO Profile)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    23.07.1981  *    WI              NASA 30.08UU (UM NO Profile)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    24.08.1981  *    WI              NASA 30.16UE
xxx   xxx    Orion                    24.09.1981  *    WI              NASA 30.13UE
xxx   xxx    Orion                    14.11.1981  *    Es              DLR K-O-111 (DFVLR Strafam 1/1)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    03.08.1982  *    WS              NASA 30.21GU
xxx   xxx    Orion                    13.01.1983  *    WI              NASA 30.15UU (UM NO Profile)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    13.01.1983  *    WI              NASA 30.18UU (UM NO Profile)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    27.04.1983  *    Es              DLR K-O-117 (DFVLR Strafam 1/3)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    31.01.1984  *    Es              DLR K-O-129 DROPMAS (DFVLR Strafam 1/4)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    16.08.1984  *    WI              NASA 30.19UU
xxx   xxx    Orion                    23.08.1984  *    WI              NASA 30.22UE (PSU E)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    28.01.1985  *    PF              NASA 30.23UU
xxx   xxx    Orion                    07.02.1985  *    PF              NASA 30.24UU
xxx   xxx    Orion                    15.02.1985  *    BdI             DLR N-O-135 (Fin test)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    22.02.1985  *    BdI             DLR N-O-136 (Fin test)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    02.04.1985  *    PF              NASA 30.25UE
xxx   xxx    Orion                    14.05.1985  *    Es              DLR K-O-140 (DFVLR Strafam 1/5)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    07.09.1985  *    WI              NASA 30.26UE
xxx   xxx    Orion                    10.09.1985  *    WI              NASA 30.28UE
xxx   xxx    Orion                    17.09.1985  *    WS              NASA 30.27UU
xxx   xxx    Orion                    16.10.1985  *    WI              NASA 30.31UE
xxx   xxx    Orion                    20.11.1986  *    WI              NASA 30.33UE (Turbulence)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    17.02.1987  *    Es              DLR K-O-143 (Strafam 2/1 DROPMAS3)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    06.05.1987  *    Es              DLR K-O-145 (RASMUS)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    26.07.1987  *    WI              NASA 30.34UE (WIPP/PSU E)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    15.10.1987  *    And             NASA 30.38UE (MAC/Epsilon XRG)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    21.10.1987  *    And             NASA 30.36UE (MAC/Epsilon MAE)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    12.11.1987  *    And             NASA 30.37UE (MAC/Epsilon MAE)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    06.12.1988  *    Es              DLR K-O-163 (RASMUS 2)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    30.01.1989  *    Es              DLR K-O-166 (Strafam 2/2)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    25.01.1990  *    Es              DLR K-O-172 (Strafam 2/3)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           06.03.1990  *    Es              DLR K-O-174 (RASMUS 3)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    13.05.1990  *    PF              NASA 30.35UE
xxx   xxx    Orion                    03.02.1991  *    Es              DLR K-O-185 (Strafam 3/2)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    09.04.1991  *    Es              DLR K-O-186 (RASMUS 4)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    21.09.1992  *    WI              NASA 30.40UP (CSOAR)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    27.02.1993  *E   Es              DLR K-O-200 (Strafam 3/21)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    19.02.1994  *F   Es              DLR K-O-207 (RASMUS 5)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    16.07.1994  *    WI              NASA 30.39UE
xxx   xxx    Orion                    22.08.1994  *    WI              NASA 30.41UP (CSHARP)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           05.12.1994  *    Es              SSC HYGROSOND (SSC Hygrosond)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           14.07.1995  *F   Es              DLR K-O/I-216 (DLR Test Orion 1)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           08.10.1995  *    Es              DLR K-O/I-217 (DLR Test Orion 2)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           04.12.1995  *    Es              REXUS 1
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           04.06.1997  *    Es              SSC GYROTEST (SSC GYROTEST)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    06.05.1998  *    WI              NASA 30.042NP
xxx   xxx    Orion                    07.10.1998  *    Es              DLR K-O-236 (DLR MAXUS Test)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           06.07.1999  *    And             MD-MI-05 (MIDAS)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    05.08.1999  *    WI              NASA 30.043NO (Sub-SEM)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    30.01.2000  *    PF              NASA 30.044UP (ASRP SRP-3)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           06.05.2000  *    And             MS-MI-03 (MIDAS Ferdinand-115)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           15.05.2000  *    And             MS-MI-05 (MIDAS Ferdinand-116)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    18.06.2000  *    WI              NASA 30.045NO
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           19.02.2001  *    Es              DLR K-O-? (DLR Test MAXUS-4)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    27.04.2001  *    WI              NASA 30.046UO
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           15.05.2001  *    And             HiN-2 (Hotel Dart test)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    06.06.2001  *    WI              NASA 30.048NO
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           17.06.2001  *    And             SO-MI-05 (MIDAS)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           24.06.2001  *    And             SO-MI-11 (MIDAS)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           16.12.2001  *    Es              SSC Hygrosond-2 (SSC Hygrosond-2)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           07.03.2002  *    PF              NASA 30.49UE
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           15.03.2002  *    PF              NASA 30.52UE
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           15.03.2002  *    PF              NASA 30.50UE
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           15.03.2002  *    PF              NASA 30.51UE
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           18.03.2002  *    PF              NASA 30.47UO (ASRP SRP-4)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    06.06.2002  *    WI              NASA 30.53NO
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           02.07.2002  *    And             MIDAS (MM-MI-12)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           05.07.2002  *    And             MIDAS (MM-MI-24)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           05.07.2002  *    And             MIDAS (MM-MI-25)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    06.06.2003  *    WI              NASA 30.55NO (Student rocket)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           01.07.2003  *    SVAL            ROMA RO-MI-01 (ROMA 2003)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           04.07.2003  *    SVAL            ROMA RO-MI-02 (ROMA 2003)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           06.07.2003  *    SVAL            ROMA RO-MI-03 (ROMA 2003)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           09.10.2003  *    WI              NASA 30.54UO (Student rocket)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    09.06.2004  *    WI              NASA 30.60NO (Student rocket)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           28.10.2004  *    Es MRL?         REXUS 2 (ECOMA)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           10.01.2005  *    Es MRL          SSC MAGIC (SSC MAGIC 1)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           15.03.2005  *    PF LC-3         NASA 30.58UE (DUST)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           15.03.2005  *    PF LC-2         NASA 30.59UE (DUST)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           17.05.2005  *    WI              NASA 30.56UO (MAGIC 2)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           09.06.2005  *    WI              NASA 30.61NO (Student rocket)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    17.06.2005  *    WS              Target
xxx   xxx    Orion                    17.06.2005  *    WS              Target
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           04.07.2005  *    And             HP-200 Hotel (IMEF)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           09.09.2005  *    WS              NASA 30.062DR (Acoustic monitoring)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           09.09.2005  *    WS              NASA 30.063DR (Acoustic monitoring)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           29.09.2005  *    WS              NASA 30.070DR (Telemetry Test)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           09.11.2005  *    WS              NASA 30.071DR
xxx   xxx    Orion                    25.03.2006  *    WS              NASA 30.064DR
xxx   xxx    Orion                    25.03.2006  *    WS              NASA 30.065DR
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           05.04.2006  *    Es              REXUS 3
xxx   xxx    Orion                    08.06.2006  *    WI              NASA 30.072NO (Student (SUBSEM))
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           01.07.2006  *F   And             ARR HotPay-1
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           21.07.2006  *    WS              NASA 30.066DR (Target?)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           21.07.2006  *    WS              NASA 30.067DR (Target?)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    03.12.2007  *    WS              NCADE Target
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           01.04.2008  *    Es              SSC April One (SSC APR ONE)
xxx   xxx    Orion                    27.06.2008  *    WI              NASA 30.074NO (RockOn)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           27.10.2008  *    BdI             AEB VO1 (Parelhas)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           10.01.2009  *    PF              NASA 30.073UO (ASRP SRP-5, ISIS)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           12.03.2009  *    Es              REXUS 6
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           13.03.2009  *    Es              REXUS 5
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           29.05.2009  *    Al              AEB V02 (Maracati 1)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           02.03.2010  *    Es              REXUS 7
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           04.03.2010  *    Es              REXUS 8
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           06.12.2010  *    Al              AEB V03 (Maracati 2)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           22.02.2011  *    Es              REXUS 9
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           23.02.2011  *    Es              REXUS 10
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           11.05.2011  *    BdI             AEB V04 (Camurupim)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           25.11.2011  *    BdI             AEB V05 (Brasil-Alemanha)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           15.02.2012  *    Egl             ET-1 (Economical Target 1)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           19.03.2012  *    Es              REXUS 12
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           16.11.2012  *    Es              REXUS 11
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           07.05.2013  *    Es              REXUS 14
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           09.05.2013  *    Es              REXUS 13
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           28.05.2014  *    Es              REXUS 16
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           29.05.2014  *    Es              REXUS 15
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           17.12.2014  *    WS              NASA 30.076DR (CTREX)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           17.03.2015  *    Es              REXUS 17
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           18.03.2015  *    Es              REXUS 18
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           15.03.2016  *    Es              REXUS 20
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           18.03.2016  *    Es              REXUS 19
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           16.03.2017  *    Es MRL          REXUS 21
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           17.03.2017  *    Es MRL          REXUS 22
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           12.03.2018  *F   Es MRL          REXUS 24
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           05.03.2019  *    Es MRL          REXUS 23
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           11.03.2019  *    Es MRL          REXUS 25
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           19.03.2019  *    Es MRL          REXUS 26
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           15.08.2020  *    Kau             SSO (Pacific Dragon 2020)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           05.11.2022  *    Es MRL          REXUS 27
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           08.11.2022  *    Es MRL          REXUS 28
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           16.02.2023  *    WI              NASA 12.089WT (MesOrion 1)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           16.02.2023  *    WI              NASA 12.090WT (MesOrion 2)
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           29.03.2023  *    Es MRL          REXUS 30
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           01.04.2023  *    Es MRL          REXUS 29
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           12.03.2024  *    Es MRL          REXUS 32
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           14.03.2024  *    Es MRL          REXUS 31


Planned:

xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           xx.xx.2023  *    Es MRL          REXUS 31
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           xx.xx.2023  *    Es MRL          REXUS 32
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           xx.xx.2024  *    Es MRL          REXUS 33
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           xx.xx.2024  *    Es MRL          REXUS 34
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           xx.xx.2025  *    Es MRL          REXUS 35
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           xx.xx.2025  *    Es MRL          REXUS 36
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           xx.xx.2022  *    Es MRL          STORT SF1
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           xx.xx.2022  *    Es MRL          STORT SF2
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           xx.xx.2022  *    Es MRL          STORT SF3
xxx   xxx    Improved Orion           xx.xx.2022  *    Es MRL          STORT TF1


Launch sites:

Al  = Alcantara Space Center (CLA), Brazil 
And = Andøya Space Center (Andøya Rocket Range), Andøya, Nordland, Norway 
BdI = Centro de Lancamento da Barreira do Inferno (CLBI), Natal, Rio Grande N, Brazil 
Egl = Eglin AFB, Florida, USA 
Es  = ESRANGE, Kiruna, Sweden 
Gu  = Andersen AFB ?, Guam, Guam  †
PF  = Poker Flat Research Range, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA 
Sva = Svalbard Rocket Range (SvalRak), Ny Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway 
WI  = Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia, USA 
WS  = White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, USA

References:

NASA: Code 810: Sounding Rocket Vehicles - Improved Orion Launch Vehicle (30.XXX)

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