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Loki (rocket)
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==SDC== In 1963 '''Space Data Corporation''' ('''SDC''') formed to provide small sounding rockets to the various defence agencies. They used the meteorological rockets and created an instrument payload for the Loki in place of the chaff dispenser. There were at least three variants of the instrument payload, PWN-10,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/n-10.html|title=Space Data PWN-10 Super Loki Datasonde|website=www.designation-systems.net}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=PWN-10 |url=http://www.astronautix.com/p/pwn-10.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref> PWN-11,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/n-11.html|title=Space Data PWN-11 Super Loki Datasonde|website=www.designation-systems.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PWN-11 |url=http://www.astronautix.com/p/pwn-11.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref> and PWN-12.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/n-12.html|title=Space Data PWN-12 Super Loki ROBIN|website=www.designation-systems.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PWN-12 |url=http://www.astronautix.com/p/pwn-12.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref> The instruments consisted primarily of a [[thermistor]] to collect temperature, which was broadcast via a small radio operating in the 1680 MHz Meteorological Band. Altitude was tracked from the ground, by reflecting radar off the probe's "starute", a square [[mylar]] parachute and radar reflector, or with the PWN-10 by means of a ranging transponder.<ref name=":0" /> The SDC version was slightly heavier than the original Loki in order to improve stability during "cruise", which lowered maximum altitude by about {{cvt|10,000|ft}}. Production of the '''Loki Datasonde''' started in 1966,<ref>{{Cite web |title=PWN-8 |url=http://www.astronautix.com/p/pwn-8.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref> and more than 20,000 were built until production ended in 1985. The Air Force requested a version that would not require radar tracking, and SDC responded by placing a [[transponder]] in the payload. This increased payload weight, and required the starute to be enlarged, further increasing launch weight. To reach the required altitudes, SDC developed a much larger booster, which also increased overall weight and further improved stability. The resulting '''Super Loki''' first flew in 1968, and in the following decades, 9,000 were delivered.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} The Air Force Meteorologists and NASA's Observational Scientists desired higher apogees with the '''ROBINSphere''' payloads in the early 1970s. In 1972, Space Data completed the development of the {{convert|4+1/2|in|mm|adj=mid|-diameter}} '''Viper IIIA''' solid propellant rocket motor. This motor followed the design of the Super Loki nearly identically and provided apogees of ~120 km for the ROBINSphere. This higher apogee allowed for measuring the wind and atmospheric vertical profiles through the 110β95 km region that were unobtainable from the Super Loki boosted ROBINSphere. The ROBINSphere is a calibrated weight inflatable 1 meter diameter radar reflecting balloon, weighing in at about 150 grams. The weight is measured within one-half gram.<ref name=ROBINSPHERE>{{cite web|last1=Robert Leviton|first1=John B. Wright|title=ACCURACY OF DENSITY FROM THE ROBIN|url=http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/AD0274213|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223072045/http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/AD0274213|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 23, 2015|website=Armed Services Technical Information Agency Arlington Hall|publisher=US ARMY|accessdate=29 October 2015}}</ref> A design change occurred in 1993 with a change in the elastomeric solid propellant with the more commonly available polymer, [[HTPB]] (hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene). This propellant design change occurred both in the Super Loki and the Viper IIIA.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]] bought SDC in 1990. The production of the Super Loki and the Viper IIIA rocket boosted meteorological payloads continued until 2001 when the product line was abandoned.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}
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