Scout (rocket family)

The Scout is an American launch vehicle and was also used by the European Space Research Organization ( ESRO ). For the start of scientific small satellite from 1958 requires NASA a cheap and easy rocket. This was built by Ling- Temco - Vought Aerospace. The successful first launch was on October 4, 1960.

The Scout - rocket used in all 4 stages solid engines. She was launched from Vandenberg and the Wallops Flight Facility, in order to bring small satellite into orbit. From 1967 to 1988, the start of the Scout by the anchored before Kenya Italian San Marco platform.

The last launch of a Scout rocket took place on 9 May 1994 from Vandenberg AFB SLC 5 and upgraded the satellite MSTI -2 into space.

The simple basic structure and low cost made ​​the Scout basis of its own developments in other countries, as Italy, Argentina and India, even if these projects failed early part of the financing.

Construction

• The first stage Algol was derived from a stage of development of the Polaris medium-range missile.
• The second stage Castor was developed from the engine of the military sergeant short-range missile.
• The third stage Antares comes from the development of the third stage of the Vanguard rocket.
• The fourth stage Altair was also derived from the Vanguard.
• In some cases ( C and Scout Scout E) was not used, a fifth step Alcyone.