Sparta (rocket)
The Sparta (or Redstone Sparta) was a three-stage rocket that launched Australia's first Earth satellite, WRESAT, on 29 November 1967.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Sparta used surplus American Redstone rockets as its first stage, a Thiokol Antares 2 from Scout rocket as a second stage, and a WRE BE-3 Alcyone solid-propellant engine as a third stage.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
A first stage was recovered from the Simpson Desert in 1990 after being found in searches by explorer Dick Smith the previous year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:RpTemplate:Clear left
LaunchesEdit
Several Spartas were launched between 1966 and 1967 from Woomera Test Range LA8 in Woomera, South Australia as part of a joint United States–United Kingdom–Australian research program aimed at understanding re-entry phenomena, and the US donated a spare for the scientific satellite launch into polar orbit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
The first launch was a failure, while the rest were successful.<ref name=":1" />
| Date | Mission Description | Nation | Agency | Apogee (km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 Nov 28 | Sparta SV-1 (re-entry vehicle) | US | US Army | 90 |
| 1966 Dec 13 | Sparta SV-2 (re-entry vehicle) | US | US Army | 90 |
| 1967 Apr 20 | Sparta SV-3 (re-entry vehicle) | US | US Army | 90 |
| 1967 Jul 4 | Sparta SV-4 (re-entry vehicle) | US | US Army | 90 |
| 1967 Jul 24 | Sparta SV-5 (re-entry vehicle) | US | US Army | 90 |
| 1967 Aug 17 | Sparta SV-6 (re-entry vehicle) | US | US Army | 90 |
| 1967 Sep 15 | Sparta SV-7 (re-entry vehicle) | US | US Army | 91 |
| 1967 Oct 11 | Sparta SV-8 (re-entry vehicle) | US | US Army | 137 |
| 1967 Oct 31 | Sparta SV-9 (re-entry vehicle) | US | US Army | 111 |
| 1967 Nov 29 | WRESAT (satellite) | Australia | WRE | 1252 |
GalleryEdit
- Redstone Sparta.jpg
Redstone-Sparta at Woomera LA8
- Redstone Sparta CC-2029 3.jpg
Preparation for launch of Redstone-Sparta CC-2029 at Woomera LA8
- Redstone Sparta CC-2029 1.jpg
Preparation for launch of Redstone-Sparta CC-2029 at Woomera LA8
- Redstone Sparta CC-2029 4.jpg
Launch of Redstone-Sparta CC-2029 with WRESAT satellite (November 29, 1967)
- Redstone Sparta CC-2029 2.jpg
Launch of Redstone-Sparta CC-2029 with WRESAT satellite (November 29, 1967)