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Terrier Orion
 Terrier Improved Orion [MDA] |
 Terrier Improved Orion [NASA] |
The Terrier improved Orion launch vehicle is a two stage spin stabilized rocket system which utilizes a Terrier MK 12 Mod 1 or Mk70 for the first stage and an Improved Orion motor for the second stage.
The Terrier motor is 18 inches in diameter and is configured with 2.5 ft2 or 4.8 ft2 fin panels arranged in a cruciform configuration. The Orion motor is 14 inches in diameter and 110 inches long. The vehicle is typically configured with spin motors and the total weight of this configuration, excluding the payload, is approximately 2,900 pounds.
The Improved Orion motor has a bi-phase propellant system (boost-sustain) that results in thrust levels of approximately 19,000 pounds during the first four seconds of motor burn then trailing off to approximately 3,000 pounds until burnout around 25 seconds. The fins are generally configured to provide a burn out spin rate of four cycles per second. The Orion motor utilizes a clamp-released/load-bearing tail can to interface with the Terrier motor. This is a rail-launched configuration that can be supported at most fixed and mobile launch ranges.
Payload configurations supported by this vehicle include 14 inch and bulbous 17.25 inch diameters. Payload weights ranging from 200 to 800 pounds can achieve altitudes of approximately 200 to 80 kilometers respectively.
| Vehicle | Stage 1 | Stage 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Terrier Orion | Terrier Mk.12 | Orion / M22E8 |
| Terrier Mk.70 Orion | Terrier Mk.70 (TX-664) | Orion / M22E8 |
| Terrier Improved Orion | Terrier Mk.12 Mod.1 | improved Orion / M112 |
| Terrier Mk.70 Improved Orion | Terrier Mk.70 (TX-664) | improved Orion / M112 |
Nr TypeNr Vehicle Date LS Payload
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 05.04.1994 * WI NASA 12.046WT
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 30.06.1995 * WI NASA 12.047WT
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 17.11.1996 * WS LC-36 NASA 41.005GP
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 23.05.1997 * WI NASA 41.013DT (MSX?)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 08.08.1997 *F WI NASA 41.011UE (COORS/ROCKI (CRISTA))
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 02.09.1997 * AnP NASA 41.014DT (DUNDEE 1)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 05.09.1997 * AnP NASA 41.015DT (DUNDEE 2)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 10.09.1997 * AnP NASA 41.016DT (DUNDEE 3)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 11.09.1997 * AnP NASA 41.017DT (DUNDEE 4 (MSX))
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 05.11.1997 * And NASA 41.004IE
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 26.02.1998 * Tor NASA 41.008UE (EDDY)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 17.12.1999 * WI NASA 41.020NM (MG.0Pool Boiling)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 13.10.2000 * WS NASA 41.021DP
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 30.10.2001 *F Wo Hyshot 1 (Hilary)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 05.06.2002 * WS NASA 41.023UE (SAMPLER)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 05.06.2002 * WS NASA 41.022UE (SAMPLER)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 01.07.2002 * And NASA 41.032GE (MM-MW-08 MacWAVE)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 05.07.2002 * And NASA 41.033GE (MM-MW-23 MacWAVE)
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 30.07.2002 * Wo Hyshot 2 (Hans)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 20.11.2002 * WI NASA 41.039DP (VALPE-1)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 24.01.2003 * Es NASA 41.030GE (MacWAVE)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 28.01.2003 * Es NASA 41.031GE (MacWAVE)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 25.03.2003 * PF LC-3 NASA 41.034UE (HEX V)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 27.03.2003 *F PF LC-5 NASA 41.028UE (JOULE)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 27.03.2003 * PF LC-2 NASA 41.029UE (JOULE)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 30.06.2003 * WI NASA 41.036UE (Release M/Dtr)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 30.06.2003 * WI NASA 41.037UE (Release M/Dtr)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 30.06.2003 * WI NASA 41.038UE (Release M/Dtr)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 15.07.2003 * WS NASA 41.025UE (SAMPLER (CWAS))
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 15.07.2003 * WS NASA 41.024UE (SAMPLER (CWAS))
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 01.08.2003 * WI NASA 12.052GT (NMACS Test)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 20.08.2003 * WI NASA 41.040DP (VALPE-2)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 03.10.2003 * WI NASA 41.035UE (SPIRIT 2)
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 18.10.2003 * WI FASTT SPV-1 (Dummy Scramjet)
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 24.10.2003 * WI NASA 12.053GT (SOAREX 3 NMACS Test)
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 13.04.2004 * WS NASA 12.054GT (NMACS Test)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 16.04.2004 * WI FASTT SPV-2 (Dummy Scramjet)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 07.08.2004 * RN NASA 41.043UE (EQUIS II)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 07.08.2004 * RN NASA 41.045UE (EQUIS II)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 15.08.2004 * RN NASA 41.044UE (EQUIS II)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 15.08.2004 *F RN NASA 41.046UE (EQUIS II)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 27.08.2004 * RN NASA 41.041UE (EQUIS II LEMMA 1)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 07.09.2004 * RN NASA 41.048UE (EQUIS II)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 17.09.2004 * RN NASA 41.047UE (EQUIS II)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 19.09.2004 * RN NASA 41.042UE (EQUIS II LEMMA 2)
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 23.09.2004 *F WS NASA 12.056GT (NMACS Test)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 24.11.2004 *F WS NASA 12.061GT
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 02.02.2005 * Kau NASA 41.058DR
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 01.03.2005 * Kau NASA 41.059DR (ARAV-A FTM-7 TRACKEX)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 02.03.2005 * Kau NASA 41.060DR (ARAV-A FTM-7 TRACKEX)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 05.05.2005 * WI NASA 41.057DP (MCAFT-1/IBSi)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 14.11.2005 * WS NASA 41.066DR
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 18.11.2005 * WS NASA 41.067DR
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 10.12.2005 * WI FASTT
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 20.12.2005 * WI NASA 12.063GT (Water recovery test)
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 25.03.2006 * Wo Hyshot 3
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 30.03.2006 * Wo Hyshot 4 (JAXA)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 05.04.2006 * WS LC-36 NASA 41.068NT (Descent imagery/RSO)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 22.05.2006 * WS NASA 12.058GT (ACS test)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 05.06.2006 * WS NASA 41.073DR
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 07.06.2006 * Kau NASA 41.071DR
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 08.06.2006 * WS NASA 41.074DR (DUNDEE target)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 23.06.2006 * Kau NASA 41.072DR Aegis (ARAV-A FTM-10 Targ)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 01.07.2006 * And NASA 41.056UO (ESPRIT (SPIRIT 3))
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 19.01.2007 * PF NASA 41.064UE (JOULE II)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 19.01.2007 * PF NASA 41.065UE (JOULE II)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 14.02.2007 * PF NASA 41.061 (HEX-II V-1)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 14.02.2007 * PF NASA 41.063 (HEX-II V-2)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 14.02.2007 * PF NASA 41.062 (HEX-II V-3)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 26.04.2007 * Kau Aegis FTM-11E4 Tgt (ARAV-A)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 15.06.2007 * Kau Aegis FTM-12-2 Targ (ARAV-A TRACKEX)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 15.06.2007 * Kau Aegis FTM-12-2 Targ (ARAV-A TRACKEX)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 21.06.2007 * WS NASA 12.059GT (Star tracker/ACS)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 03.08.2007 * And NASA 41.069 (MASS 1 (NLCs))
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 06.08.2007 * And NASA 41.070 (MASS 2 (NLCs))
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 06.09.2007 * WI NASA 41.055NP (IRVE)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 07.11.2007 * Kau Aegis FTM-13 Target (ARAV-A)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 07.11.2007 * Kau Aegis FTM-13 Target (ARAV-A)
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 14.07.2008 * WI NASA 41.075NP (GT?) (SubTec-II)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 18.02.2009 * PF NASA 41.076 (Turbopause)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 18.02.2009 * PF NASA 41.078 (Turbopause)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 18.02.2009 * PF NASA 41.079 (Turbopause)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 18.02.2009 * PF NASA 41.077 (Turbopause)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 07.05.2009 * Wo HIFiRE 0
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 28.05.2009 * WI NASA 41.080NR (SOAREX 7 TDRV)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 26.06.2009 * WI NASA 41.083UO (RockOn 2009)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 31.07.2009 * Kau Aegis FTM-17 target (ARAV-A)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 31.07.2009 * Kau FTX-06E1 TRACKEX (ARAV-A)
xxx xxx Terrier Orion 17.12.2009 * WS NASA 41.086UO (HAROH)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 09.02.2010 * PF NASA 41.084UE (Ampules)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 22.03.2010 * Wo HIFiRE 1
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 24.06.2010 * WI LA-2 NASA 41.088UO (RockOn 2010)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 21.09.2010 * WI LA-2 NASA 41.082NP (SUBTEC III)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 06.12.2010 * WS NASA 41.087NT (TRaINED)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 10.06.2011 * WI LA-2 MRL NASA 41.096GT (SUBTEC IV/SMART)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 23.06.2011 * WI LA-1 AML NASA 41.095UO (RockOn 2011)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 10.07.2011 * WI LA-2 MRL NASA 41.091GE (Daytime Dynamo)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 21.07.2011 * WI LA-1 NASA 41.092GO (RockSat-X 1)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 11.10.2011 * And Athena NASA 41.094UE (CHAMPS)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 13.10.2011 * And U3 NASA 41.093UE (CHAMPS)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 27.03.2012 * WI LA-2 HAD NASA 41.097UE (ATREX 3)
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 27.03.2012 * WI LA-2 HAD NASA 41.098UE (ATREX 5)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 10.05.2012 * Kau Aegis FTM16E2a Targ (ARAV-A)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 21.06.2012 * WI LA-2 MRL NASA 41.101UO (RockOn 2012)
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 29.01.2013 * WI LA-2 MRL NASA 41.107GT (Li release test)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 15.02.2013 * WS NASA 41.104GT
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 01.05.2013 * RN NASA 41.100DR (MOSC 1A)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 09.05.2013 * RN NASA 41.102DR (MOSC 1B)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 20.06.2013 * WI LA-1 50K NASA 41.106UO (RockOn 2013)
xxx xxx Terrier Mk.70 Orion 04.07.2013 * WI LA-2 MRL NASA 41.090GE (Daytime Dynamo)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 15.01.2014 * WI FTX-18 Target (ARAV-A)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 15.01.2014 * WI FTX-18 Target (ARAV-A)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 15.01.2014 * WI FTX-18 Target (ARAV-A)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 26.06.2014 * WI NASA 41.110UO (RockOn 2014)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 26.01.2015 * PF LC-2 NASA 41.111UE (MIST 1)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 26.01.2015 * PF LC-5 NASA 41.112UE (MIST 2)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 25.06.2015 * WI LA-2 MRL NASA 41.113UO (RockOn 2015)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 20.10.2015 * SUi ASD-15 Target (ARAV-A)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 07.03.2016 * WI NASA 41.114NP (SOAREX 9 / RadPC / VIP)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 24.06.2016 * WI NASA 41.116UO (RockOn 9 / RockSat-C 8)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 19.07.2016 * Es ROTEX-T
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 22.06.2017 * WI NASA 41.121UO (RockOn 10 / RockSat-C 9)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 26.01.2018 * PF NASA 41.119CE (Super Soaker 1)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 26.01.2018 * PF NASA 41.120CE (Super Soaker 2)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 26.01.2018 * PF NASA 41.122CE (Super Soaker 3)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 21.06.2018 * WS NASA 41.125UO (RockOn 11 / Rocksat-C 10)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 20.06.2019 * WI NASA 41.126UO (RockOn 12 / Rocksat-C 11)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion xx.08.2020 * Kau (ARAV-A)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 25.06.2021 * WI NASA 41.130UO (RockOn 13 / Rocksat-C 12)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 24.06.2022 * WI NASA 41.131UO (RockOn 14 / Rocksat-C 13)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 23.03.2023 * And NASA 41.127UE (VortEX 1 Low-Flyer)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion 17.08.2023 * WI NASA 41.132UO (RockOn 15 / Rocksat-C 14)
planned:
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion xx.08.2016 * WI . NASA 41.117NR (SHARPIE 1)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion xx.09.2016 * WI . NASA 41.118NR (SHARPIE 2)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion xx.10.2022 * WI NASA 41.123CE (TOMEX-Plus 2)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion xx.10.2022 * WI NASA 41.124CE (TOMEX-Plus 3)
xxx xxx Terrier Impr. Orion xx.03.2023 * And NASA 41.128UE (VortEX 2 Low-Flyer)
Launch sites:
And = Andøya Space Center (Andøya Rocket Range), Andøya, Nordland, Norway 
AnP = Anna Plains, Western Australia, Australia †
Es = ESRANGE, Kiruna, Sweden
Kau = Kauai Test Facility (KTF) (Pacific Missile Range Facility), Barking Sands, Kauai, USA
PF = Poker Flat Research Range, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
RN = Roi-Namur, Reagan Test Site (formerly Kwajalein Missile Range), Kwajalein, Marshall Islands
SUi = Royal Artillery Guided Weapons Range, South Uist, Hebrides, UK
Tor = Camp Tortuguero, Vega Baja, Arecibo, Puerto Rico
WI = Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia, USA
WS = White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, USA
Wo = Woomera Instrumented Range, Woomera, South Australia, Australia
