 | |
| Function | Sounding rocket |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | University of Michigan |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 12.941 metres (42 ft 5.5 in) |
| Diameter | 580 millimetres (22.9 in) |
| Mass | 2,660 kilograms (5,870 lb) |
| Stages | Three |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | Eglin AFB |
| Total launches | 10 |
| Success(es) | 9 |
| Failure(s) | 1 |
| First flight | June 26, 1958 |
| Last flight | November 2, 1965 |
The Exos, originally designated RM-86 and later PWN-4, was a sounding rocket developed by the University of Michigan and NACA for use by the United States Air Force.
Developed by the University of Michigan for use by the Air Force Cambridge Research Center, Exos used a three-stage configuration, consisting of a first-stage rocket from an Honest John rocket, a second stage from a Nike-Ajax surface-to-air missile, and a Thiokol XM19 upper stage.[1] It was designated XRM-86 in April 1959, and redesignated PWN-4A in June 1963.[2]
Utilising a rail launcher, the first launch of a full Exos vehicle took place in June 1958,[2] launched from the Wallops Flight Facility.[3] Eight operational launches took place between 1960 and 1965, launched from Eglin Air Force Base.[4]
| Date (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | Apogee | Outcome | Mission[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 June 1958 | Exos | Wallops Island | 370 kilometres (230 mi) | Success | Test launch |
| 25 September 1958 | Exos | Wallops Island | 460 kilometres (290 mi) | Success | Test launch |
| 19 February 1960 | Exos | Eglin AFB | 37 kilometres (23 mi) | Failure | Chemical release research |
| 11 August 1961 | Exos | Eglin AFB | 114 kilometres (71 mi) | Success | Ionospheric research |
| 3 August 1962 | Exos | Eglin AFB | 365 kilometres (227 mi) | Success | Bipolar Probe ionospheric research |
| 25 October 1962 | Exos | Eglin AFB | 669 kilometres (416 mi) | Success | Ionospheric research |
| 25 July 1963 | Exos | Eglin AFB | 623 kilometres (387 mi) | Success | Ionospheric research |
| 25 May 1965 | Exos | Eglin AFB | 488 kilometres (303 mi) | Success | Ionospheric research |
| 2 November 1965 | Exos | Eglin AFB | 686 kilometres (426 mi) | Success | International Quiet Sun Year aeronomy mission |
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1955–1962 United States Air Force rocket and missile designations
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United States tri-service research rocket designations post-1962
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