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Rocket sled

{{Short description|Test platform pushed by rockets along a track}}

Image:Rocket sled track.jpg rides the rocket sled at Edwards Air Force Base]]

{{for|rocket launches assisted by non-rocket powered guideways|rocket sled launch}}

A rocket sled is a test platform that slides along a track (e.g. set of rails), propelled by rockets.

File:Sonic Wind No 1.jpg

A rocket sled differs from a rocket car in not using wheels; at high speeds wheels would spin to pieces due to the extreme centrifugal forces. Apart from rare examples running on snow or ice (such as Max Valier's RAK BOBs of the late 1920s{{cite web|title=Ein schneller Schlitten|date=30 December 2013|url=https://blog.deutsches-museum.de/2013/12/30/ein-schneller-schlitten|publisher=Deutsches Museum|access-date=2024-02-17}} and Harry Bull's BR-1 in 1931{{cite journal |last=Winter |first=Frank H |author-link=Frank H. Winter |title=Harry Bull, American Rocket Pioneer |journal=AAS History Series |volume=9 |pages=291–312 |year=1989 |publisher=Univelt |publication-place=San Diego |issn=0730-3564 |url=https://epizodsspace.airbase.ru/bibl/inostr-yazyki/iaa/1989/Winter_Harry_Bull_American_Rocket_Pioneer.pdf |access-date=7 September 2024}}), most rocket sleds run on a track. Although some rocket sleds ride on single beams or rails, most use a pair of rails. Standard gauge (1.435 m / 56.5 in) is common but sled tracks of narrower or wider gauge also exist. The rail cross-section profile is usually that of a Vignoles rail, commonly used for railroads. Sliding pads, called "slippers", are curved around the head of the rails to prevent the sled from flying off the track. Air cushions and magnetic levitation have also been used as alternatives, with potential benefits including reduced sled vibration.

A rocket sled holds the land-based speed record for a vehicle, at Mach 8.5.{{cite web|title=The Fastest Rocket Sled On Earth|date=16 January 2006|url=http://www.impactlab.com/2006/01/15/the-fastest-rocket-sled-on-earth/|publisher=impactlab.com|access-date=2008-03-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522173022/https://www.impactlab.com/2006/01/15/the-fastest-rocket-sled-on-earth/|archive-date=2022-05-22|url-status=dead}}

Usage

Image:8.5 Mach rocket sled 030430.jpg

Image:Holloman-sledtrack.jpg

Rocket sleds were used extensively early in the Cold War to accelerate equipment considered too experimental (hazardous) for testing directly in piloted aircraft. The equipment to be tested under high acceleration or high airspeed conditions was installed along with appropriate instrumentation, data recording and telemetry equipment on the sled. The sled was then accelerated according to the experiment's design requirements for data collection along a length of isolated, precisely level and straight test track.

Testing ejection seat systems and technology prior to their use in experimental or operational aircraft was a common application of the rocket sled at Holloman Air Force Base. Perhaps the most famous, the tracks at Edwards Air Force Base were used to test missiles, supersonic ejection seats, aircraft shapes and the effects of acceleration and deceleration on humans. The rocket sled track at Edwards Air Force Base was dismantled and used to extend the track at Holloman Air Force Base, taking it to almost 10 miles (16 km) in length.

Unmanned rocket sleds continue to be used to test missile components without requiring costly live missile launches. A world speed record of Mach 8.5 (6,416 mph / 10,325 km/h) was achieved by a four-stage rocket sled at Holloman Air Force Base on April 30, 2003, the highest speed ever attained by a land vehicle.{{cite web|title=Test sets world land speed record|date=30 April 2003 |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/139307/test-sets-world-land-speed-record/|publisher=www.af.mil|access-date=2016-04-19}}

Murphy's law first received public attention during a press conference about rocket sled testing.{{cite web|title=Murphy's laws origin|url=http://www.murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-true.html|publisher=murphys-laws.com|access-date=2008-03-18|archive-date=2012-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310224906/http://www.murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-true.html|url-status=dead}}

Rocket Sled Tracks

class="wikitable sortable"
Name

! Location

! Co-ordinates

! Country

! Length

! Gauge

! Rail Type

! Welded/
Segmented

! Opened

! Renovated

! Closed

! Notes

Holloman High Speed Test Track (HHSTT) Rails 1&2

| Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, NM

| {{coord|32.8881

106.1502}}

| USA

| {{cvt|50,971|ft|km|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|84|in|m|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| 171

| Welded

| 1950{{cite book |last=Bushnell |first=David |author-link=David Bushnell (historian) |date=1959 |title=Origin and Operation of the First Holloman Track. Volume I. History of Tracks and Track Testing at the Air Force Missile Development Center, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, 1949 - 1956 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA323573.pdf |publisher=United States Air Force}}

| 1956, 1957, 1974, 2000, 2002

|

| Runs North-South

Supersonic Naval Ordnance Research Track (SNORT)

| NAWC-WD Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, CA

| {{coord|35.7047

117.7408}}

| USA

| {{cvt|21,550|ft|km|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|56.5|in|m|sigfig=4|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| 171

| Welded

| 1953

| 2006

|

| North-South

Holloman High Speed Test Track (HHSTT) Rail 3

| Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, NM

| {{coord|32.9687

106.15688}}

| USA

| {{cvt|20,200|ft|km|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|26.3|in|m|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| 171

| Welded

| 1974

|

|

| North-South

Extended High-Speed Rocket Sled Track

| Edwards AFB, Edwards, CA

| {{coord|34.81485

117.9084}}

| USA

| {{cvt|20,000|ft|km|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|56.5|in|m|sigfig=4|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| 171

| Welded

| 1949

| 1959

| 1963

| Also known as South Base Sled Track (SBST). Rails used to lengthen HHSTT

Rail Track Rocket Sled Test Facility{{cite web|url=https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/dpi/press_release/tbrl13052014.pdf|title=SA To RM Inaugurates Unique "RTRS Penta Rail Supersonic Track" at TBRL|date=12 May 2014|website=Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509084138/https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/dpi/press_release/tbrl13052014.pdf|archive-date=9 May 2019|access-date=9 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/techfocus/2017/TF_June_2017_WEB.pdf|title=Technology Focus magazine Vol. 25 No. 3, May-June 2017|date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509084111/https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/techfocus/2017/TF_June_2017_WEB.pdf|archive-date=9 May 2019|access-date=9 May 2019}}

| Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory Range, Ramgarh, Haryana

| {{Coord|30.641470|76.922399|format=dec}}

| India

| {{cvt|3.8|km|ft|sigfig=5|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|0.7

4.86|m|in|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

| 1988

| 2014

|

| 5 rails
North/South

Supersonic Military Air Research Track (SMART)

| Aircraft Interior Products Propulsion Systems, Hurricane Mesa, UT

| {{coord|37.2384

113.22037}}

| USA

| {{cvt|12,000|ft|km|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|56.5|in|m|sigfig=4|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| 105

| Welded

| 1955

|

| 1961*

| *Now Privately Owned & Operational.
North-South

Sandia 2

| Technical Area III, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM

| {{coord|34.9992

106.55646}}

| USA

| {{cvt|10,000|ft|km|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|0.56|m|in|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

| 1966

| 1985

|

| North-South

Rocket rail track 3500, FKP GkNIPAS

| Beloozyorsky

| {{coord|55.48677|38.49836}}

| Russia

| {{cvt|3.5|km|ft|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

| Segmented

|

| 2014

|

| Formerly RD-2500. Used by Zvezda for ejection seat testing

RT-2650, FKP NII Geodeziya

| Krasnoarmeysk

| {{coord|56.11901|38.20345}}

| Russia

| {{cvt|2650|m|ft|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

| R-75

|

| 1956

| 1984

|

|

TsKP MIK of RFNC-VNIIEF

| Sarov

| {{coord|54.8212|43.2530}}

| Russia

| {{cvt|3.0|km|ft|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

B-4 Transonic Test Track

| NAWC-WD Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, CA

| {{coord|35.7063

117.80516}}

| USA

| {{cvt|6,800|ft|m|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|56.5|in|m|sigfig=4|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| 75

| Welded

| 1940

|

|

|

Martin-Baker Langford Lodge

| Langford Lodge, Northern Ireland

| {{coord|54.62581

6.29895}}

| UK

| {{cvt|6,200|ft|m|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|30|in|m|sigfig=3|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| 80

|

| 1971

|

|

| Privately Owned & Operated by Martin-Baker

Pendine Long Test Track (LTT)

| QinetiQ, Pendine, Wales

| {{coord|51.73801

4.49680}}

| UK

| {{cvt|1500|m|ft|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|12|in|m|sigfig=3|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| 103

|

| 1956

|

|

|

Centre D'essais Des Landes Single Rail R1{{cite book |author= |date=2013 |title=Centres et Moyens d'Essais / COMAERO |trans-title=Test Centres and Facilities |url=http://www.eurosae.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Centres_et_moyens_d_essais_tome_1.pdf |language=French |volume=I |location=Palaiseau |publisher=ONERA |isbn=978-2-7257-0017-5}}

| Biscarrosse

| {{coord|44.34641

1.23640}}

| France

| {{cvt|2.0|km|ft|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| Monorail

| Square Beam

| Segmented

| 1968

| 1974, ?

|

| (Foundation for 2nd rail in place)

G-4 Exterior and Terminal Ballistics Test Track

| NAWC-WD Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, CA

| {{coord|35.86793

117.73071}}

| USA

| {{cvt|3,000|ft|m|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|33.875|in|m|sigfig=3|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| 171

| Welded

| 1954

|

|

|

ETTC KEMTF sled track

| Test Area C-74, Eglin AFB, Ft. Walton Beach, FL

| {{coord|30.68503

86.32713}}

| USA

| {{cvt|2,000|ft|m|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|56.5|in|m|sigfig=4|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| 171

| Welded

| 1956

|

|

|

Sandia 1

| Technical Area III, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM

| {{coord|34.98955

106.54407}}

| USA

| {{cvt|2,000|ft|m|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|56.5|in|m|sigfig=4|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

| 1951

|

|

| North-South

Edwards North Base Track "G-Whiz"

| Edwards AFB, Edwards, CA

| {{coord|34.99641

117.85798}}

| USA

| {{cvt|2,000|ft|m|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

| Welded

| 1944

|

| 1953

| Also known as North Base Sled Track (NBST).
East-West

Redstone Test Center Sled Track 1

| Test Area 1, Redstone Arsenal, AL

| {{coord|34.60375

86.64504}}

| USA

| {{cvt|1,900|ft|m|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| Monorail

|

|

| 1956

|

|

| Formerly Redstone Technical Test Center

Pendine Impact Test Track

| QinetiQ, Pendine, Wales

| {{coord|51.74125

4.50728}}

| UK

| {{cvt|400|m|ft|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|56.5|in|m|sigfig=4|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

|

|

|

|

Centre D'essais Des Landes Single Rail R2

| Biscarrosse

| {{coord|44.35312

1.23039}}

| France

| {{cvt|400|m|ft|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|0.60|m|in|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| Square Beam

| Segmented

| 1967

|

|

| Former HB3 track, moved from CIEES Colomb-Béchar, Algeria

Redstone Test Center Sled Track 2

| Test Area 1, Redstone Arsenal, AL

| {{coord|34.60173

86.63935}}

| USA

| {{cvt|1,200|ft|m|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| Monorail

|

|

|

|

|

| Formerly Redstone Technical Test Center

New Mexico Tech/EMRTC Sled Track

| Socorro, NM

| {{coord|34.02348

106.97819}}

| USA

| {{cvt|1,000|ft|m|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| Monorail

| 171

|

|

|

|

| Privately owned & operated.
North-South

Pendine Short Test Track (STT)

| QinetiQ, Pendine, Wales

| {{coord|51.74375

4.50908}}

| UK

| {{cvt|200|m|ft|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems

| Rock Hill, FL

| {{coord|30.61492

86.09640}}

| USA

| {{cvt|656|ft|m|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

| I-Beam

|

|

|

|

| Privately Owned & Operated

Alkantpan Rocket Sled Range

| Alkantpan Test Range, Copperton, Northern Cape

| {{coord

29.94715|22.22665}}

| South Africa

| {{cvt|200|m|ft|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|0.5|m|in|sigfig=3|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| Single or Double I-beam

| Segmented

| 1985

| 1999

|

| Runs East to West

Subsonic and supersonic testing

Holloman Maglev Track

| Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, NM

| {{coord|33.01975

106.16086}}

| USA

| {{cvt|2,100|ft|m|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

|

|

|

|

| North-South

Germany

|

|

| Germany

|

|

| I-Beam

|

|

|

|

|

Bundeswehr WTD 91 rocket sled track

| Meppen

| {{coord|52.8631|7.4084}}

| Germany

| {{cvt|830|m|ft|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

AVIC ALI track{{cite journal |last=Yang |first=Xingbang |date=2000 |title=XB High Accuracy Rocket Sled Test Track |url=https://journal.hep.com.cn/sscae/CN/Y2000/V2/I10/98 |language=Chinese |journal=Engineering Science |volume=2 |issue=10 |pages=98–104 |doi=10.3969/j.issn.1009-1742.2000.10.021 |access-date=15 September 2024}}

| Xiangyang

| {{coord|32.3939|112.1386}}

| China

| {{cvt|6.0|km|ft|sigfig=5|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|1.435|m|in|sigfig=3|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

| Welded

| 1993

| 2006

|

| Also known as XB High Accuracy Rocket Sled Test Track.

Muroran Institute of Technology APReC HSTT{{cite book |doi=10.2514/6.2012-928 |chapter=Research and Development of High Speed Test Track Facility in Japan |title=50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition |date=2012 |last1=Nakata |first1=Daisuke |last2=Yajima |first2=Jun |last3=Nishine |first3=Kenji |last4=Higashino |first4=Kazuyuki |last5=Tanatsugu |first5=Nobuhiro |last6=Kozu |first6=Ami |isbn=978-1-60086-936-5 }}

| Shiraoi

| {{coord|42.5358|141.2558}}

| Japan

| {{cvt|300|m|ft|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|1.435|m|in|sigfig=3|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

| 2009

|

|

|

Muroran Institute of Technology APReC SSTT

| Shiraoi

| {{coord|42.5357|141.2552}}

| Japan

| {{cvt|100|m|ft|sigfig=3|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

| {{cvt|0.128|m|in|sigfig=3|abbr=on|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

| 2008

|

|

|

TÜBİTAK SAGE HABRAS

| Karapınar

| {{coord|37.6212|33.4634}}

| Turkey

| {{cvt|2.0|km|ft|sigfig=4|disp=br()|sortable=on}}

|

|

|

| 2017

|

|

|

Other former rocket sled tracks include those at the following locations:

  • Peenemünde, Germany (V-1 launch ramp)
  • Base B1, Colomb-Béchar, Algeria (HB3 track (330 m) of CIEES, built by Hotchkiss-Brandt)
  • PISQ, Salto di Quirra, Sardinia, Italy (660-ft supersonic sled track with 8° inclination{{cite book |doi=10.1016/B978-1-4831-9965-8.50008-3 |title=Progress in Rocket, Missile, and Space Carrier Vehicle Testing, Launching, and Tracking Technology |series=Advances in Space Science and Technology |date=1965 |last1=Sharpe |first1=Mitchell R. |last2=Lowther |first2=John M. |volume=7 |pages=1–145 |isbn=978-1-4831-9965-8 }})
  • Satory, France
  • Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, France (used by René Leduc for the SE 1910)
  • Cazaux Air Base, France (HB1 (200 m) and HB2 (600 m) tracks of the DGA Centre d'essais en vol, built by Hotchkiss-Brandt)
  • Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA
  • Institute of Aviation Medicine, Farnborough, UK{{cite journal |last1=Ellis |first1=Herbert |date=2008 |title=Recollections of Aeromedical Flying Trials |url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/Research/RAF-Historical-Society-Journals/Journal_43_Seminar_Aviation_Medicine.pdf |journal=Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal |volume=43 |pages=97–108 |issn=1361-4231 |access-date=18 February 2024}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{commons cat|Rocket sleds}}

  • [https://www.holloman.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/317315/846-ts-the-need-for-speed/ Holloman High Speed Test Track]
  • [http://www.sandia.gov/vqsec/SON-ST.html Sandia Sled Tracks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223071959/http://www.sandia.gov/vqsec/SON-ST.html |date=2015-02-23 }}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070720112641/http://www.rttc.army.mil/resources/ta1.htm Redstone Technical Test Center Test Area 1]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20081212165131/http://www.martin-baker.co.uk/Contact-Us/UK.aspx Langford Lodge Martin Baker Track]
  • [http://www.emrtc.nmt.edu/facilities/sledtrack.php New Mexico Tech EMRTC Sled Track]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20041016124712/http://www.improb.com/airchives/paperair/volume9/v9i5/murphy/murphy1.html Improbable Research]
  • [https://books.google.com/books?id=KS0DAAAAMBAJ&dq=popular+science+titanium+1950&pg=RA1-PA152 Airmen "Crash" on Rocket Sled, March 1950, Popular Science] large article
  • [https://www.qinetiq.com/en/pendine/about QinetiQ, MoD Pendine]
  • [https://www.habras.gov.tr/en TÜBİTAK SAGE HABRAS]

{{extreme motion}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rocket Sled}}

Category:Rocketry