Jupiter-C
The Jupiter-C was an American research and development vehicle developed from the Jupiter-A. Jupiter-C was used for three uncrewed sub-orbital spaceflights in 1956 and 1957 to test re-entry nosecones that were later to be deployed on the more advanced PGM-19 Jupiter mobile missile. The recovered nosecone was displayed in the Oval Office as part of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's televised speech on November 7, 1957.
Jupiter-C on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral | |
| Function | Sounding rocket |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Chrysler for the ABMA |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 69.9 feet (21.3 m) |
| Diameter | 5.8 feet (1.8 m) |
| Mass | 64,000 pounds (29,000 kg) |
| Stages | 3 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to Sub-orbital | |
| Mass | 11 kg (24 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | LC-5 and 6, Cape Canaveral Missile Annex, Florida |
| Total launches | 3 (all suborbital) |
| Success(es) | 1 (suborbital) |
| Failure(s) | 1 (suborbital) |
| Partial failure(s) | 1 (suborbital) |
| First flight | September 20, 1956 |
| Last flight | August 8, 1957 |
| First stage – Redstone (stretched) | |
| Powered by | 1 North American Aviation (Rocketdyne) 75-110-A-7 |
| Maximum thrust | 93,560 lbf; 416.18 kN (42,439 kgf) |
| Specific impulse | 235 s (2.30 km/s) |
| Burn time | 155 s |
| Propellant | LOX/Hydyne |
| Second stage – Sergeant cluster | |
| Powered by | 11 Solid |
| Maximum thrust | 16,500 lbf; 73.4 kN (7,480 kgf) |
| Specific impulse | 214 s (2.10 km/s) |
| Burn time | 6 s |
| Third stage – Sergeant cluster | |
| Powered by | 3 Solid |
| Maximum thrust | 2,040 kgf (4,500 lbf; 20.0 kN) |
| Specific impulse | 214 s (2.10 km/s) |
| Burn time | 6 s |
A member of the Redstone rocket family, Jupiter-C was designed by the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA), under the direction of Wernher von Braun. Three Jupiter-C flights were made. These were followed by satellite launches with the vehicle designated as Juno I (see Juno I below or the Juno I article). All were launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.