Asp (rocket)

ASP (Atmospheric Sounding Projectile) is the designation of an American sounding rocket family.^[1][2][3][4] ASP was used for a variety of uses, including research into hypersonic speed and to propel rocket sleds. In NASA service it was flown from a number of locations as a sounding rocket.^[5][6] The selection by NASA of the Apache and Javelin rockets for the jobs performed by ASP led to its retirement.^[7]

ASP-I was used to sample nuclear explosions and resultant clouds^[8] The ASP was the fastest single stage sounding rocket when developed.^[9] The Asp was manufactured by Cooper Development Corporation, California.^[10] The solid propellant motor was made by Grand Central Rocket company.

The ASP-I has a payload ability of 11 kg, a maximum flight height of 110 km, a takeoff thrust of 42.00 kN, a mass of 111 kg, a diameter of 0.17 m, a length of 3.68 m and a fin span of 0.51 m.

ASP-I was launched 30 times from December 1, 1955 to June 14, 1962 from White Sands, Cape Canaveral, Point Mugu, Bikini, China Lake, Mercury site and Tonopah.^[11]

ASP-II^[12] (Cleansweep I) had a slightly lower total impulse and a significantly shorter burn time (3.6 seconds vs. 5.6).^[13] Cleansweep I was used to collect particulate air sample from nuclear explosions at the Nevada Test Range.^[14] It was launched once in 1959 from Tonopah with an apogee of 30 km.^[12]

ASP-III^[15] (Cleansweep II) had slightly lower specs.^[16] It was also modified for use in the South Pacific. Two or four LOKI rockets were strapped on the basic ASP. Results were less than expected and ASP-III was a failure.^[17] It was launched four times from White Sands between 1957 and 1958.^[15]

ASP-IV^[18] used an ASP motor case with B.F. Goodrich E-107M propellant.^[19] It was launched two times, on May 18 and 19, 1960 from Wallops Island to an apogee of 80 km. ^[18]

ASP-V was to utilize a polysulfide propellant but erratic burning and resultant burn through proved insoluble. ASP-V was canceled.^[20]

ASP was combined with a Nike booster to create the ASPAN which exceeded performance of the Nike-Cajun and Nike Deacon.^[21]

This is a single stage vehicle using an ASP motor, intended as a high-altitude radar target.^[22] It was launched three times from White Sands in 1959 to an apogee of 60 km.^[22]

When ASP-I was combined with a one-fifth scale Sergeant this was designates as ASCAMP^[23] (also known as Nike-ASP^[5]). ASCAMP had to be launched from a remotely controlled launcher due to the necessary closeness to the nuclear blast.^[24] It was launched 27 times in August 1958 from Johnston Island to an apogee of 100 km.^[23]

The following table summarizes the various ASP versions and stages:^[25][26][27]

• Corliss, William R (1971). NASA SOUNDING ROCKETS, 1958-1968 A Historical Summary (NASA SP-4401) (PDF). The NASA Historical Report Series. Washington D.C.: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
• Morrow, Richard B; Pines, Mitchell, S. (2000). Small Sounding Rockets. Searingtown, New York: Small Rocket Press. ISBN 0-967-4106-0-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Newell, Homer E. Jr. (1959). Sounding Rockets. New York: McGraw-Hill.

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