Scout X, also known as Cub Scout, was an American rocket which served as a prototype of the Scout, which was launched on a single test flight in 1960. It was used to test the configuration that later Scout rockets would use as well as two of the solid rocket motors that would be used on them.

FunctionTest vehicle
ManufacturerVought
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height21.6 metres (71 ft)
Diameter1.02 metres (3 ft 4 in)
Mass16,700 kilograms (36,800 lb)
StagesTwo
Associated rockets
FamilyScout
Derivative workScout X-1
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesWallops LA-3
Total launches1
Failure(s)1
UTC date of spacecraft launch1960-04-18
First stage – Algol 1A
Powered by1 solid
Maximum thrust471 kilonewtons (106,000 lbf)
Specific impulse236 sec
Burn time40 seconds
PropellantSolid
Second stage – Antares 1A
Powered by1 X-254
Maximum thrust60 kilonewtons (13,000 lbf)
Specific impulse256 sec
Burn time39 seconds
PropellantSolid

The Scout X had the same configuration as the Scout X-1, which would be the first all-up version of the Scout. Unlike the X-1, which had four live stages, the Scout X only had live first and third stages, with battleship mockups of the second and fourth.

It was launched from Launch Area 3 at the Wallops Flight Facility at 23:09 GMT on 18 April 1960. The launch failed when the rocket disintegrated during stage separation.

References edit

  • Wade, Mark. "Scout". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Scout". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  • McDowell, Jonathan. "Scout". Orbital & Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-06-18.