Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles
Appendix 4: Undesignated Vehicles
Phoenix
Copyright © 2005 Andreas Parsch

Rocket Power Inc. Phoenix

In 1959, the Air Force Cambridge Research Lab (AFCRL) had a requirement for a two-stage solid-propellant sounding rocket to loft a 4.5 kg (10 lb) payload to an altitude of 300 km (1 million ft). It contracted the University of Michigan, which turned to the newly formed company Rocket Power Inc. (RPI) to build the rocket.

Photo: Richard T. Layman, via Morrow/Pines
Phoenix


The Phoenix sounding rocket consisted of two stages (named Kiva and Hopi) built by RPI, which were each fitted with four tail fins. The first flight of the vehicle occurred on 21 June 1960 at the Naval Missile Test Center at Pt. Mugu. Within the next three years, the AFCRL launched at least nine additional Phoenix rockets. With a 4.5 kg (10 lb) payload, the vehicle could reach a maximum altitude of about 365 km (225 miles).

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for Phoenix:

Length5.50 m (18 ft 0.6 in)
Diameter1st stage: 16.5 cm (6.5 in)
2nd stage: 11.4 cm (4.5 in)
Weight150 kg (330 lb)
Speed9550 km/h (5930 mph)
Altitude365 km (225 miles)
Propulsion1st stage: RPI 5.5KS6100 Kiva solid-fueled rocket; 27 kN (6100 lb) for 5.5 s
2nd stage: RPI 3.0KS4000 Hopi solid-fueled rocket; 17.8 kN (4000 lb) for 3 s

Main Sources

[1] Richard B. Morrow, Mitchell S. Pines: "Small Sounding Rockets", Small Rocket Press, 2000
[2] Jonathan McDowell: Launch Vehicles Database


Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4




Last Updated: 9 December 2005