Rohini (rocket family)#RH-560
{{Short description|Sounding rockets}}
Rohini is a series of sounding rockets developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO){{Cite web |title=RH |url=http://www.astronautix.com/r/rh.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.astronautix.com}} for meteorological and atmospheric study. These sounding rockets are capable of carrying payloads of {{convert|2|to|200|kg}} between altitudes of {{convert|100|to|500|km}}.{{cite news|last=Subramanium|first=T S|title=Reaching out to the stars|url=http://www.flonnet.com/fl2101/stories/20040116004011600.htm|access-date=10 March 2012|newspaper=Frontline|date=16 January 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219205953/http://flonnet.com/fl2101/stories/20040116004011600.htm|archive-date=19 February 2010}} The ISRO currently uses RH-200, RH-300,Mk-II, RH-560 Mk-II and RH-560 Mk-III rockets, which are launched from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in Thumba and the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
File:Rohini rockets family shapes-03.jpg Various programs such as Equatorial ElectroJet (EEJ), Leonid Meteor Shower (LMS), Indian Middle Atmosphere Programme (IMAP), Monsoon Experiment (MONEX), Middle Atmosphere Dynamics (MIDAS), and Sooryagrahan-2010 have been conducted using the Rohini sounding rocket series. It has been the forerunners for ISRO's heavier and more complex launch vehicles, with continued usage even today for atmospheric and meteorological experiment and research.
Currently, three versions are offered as operational sounding rockets , which cover a payload range of 8-100 Kg and an apogee range of 80-475 km.
Several scientific missions with national and international participation have been conducted using the Rohini sounding rockets.
Brief History
On November 21, 1963, the American Nike-Apache was the first sounding rocket to launch from Thumba. Following that, two-stage rockets from France (Centaure) and Russia (M-100) were launched. In 1967, the Rohini RH-75, an ISRO variant, was launched. The Rohini Sounding Rocket (RSR) Programme was established in 1975 to encompass all sounding rocket operations.
Nomenclature
The rockets in the series are designated with the letters RH (for "Rohini"), followed by a number corresponding to the diameter (in millimetres) of the rocket.{{cite web|title=ISRO > FAQ|url=http://www.isro.org/scripts/faq.aspx#a14|work=Frequently Asked Questions: ISRO|publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation}}
{{anchor|RH-75|RH-125|RH-200|RH-300|RH-560}}Series
= RH-75 =
The RH-75,{{Cite web |title=RH-75 |url=http://www.astronautix.com/r/rh-75.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.astronautix.com}} the first sounding rocket developed by India,{{cite news|last=Chari|first=Sridhar K|title=Sky is not the limit|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060722/saturday/main1.htm|access-date=10 March 2012|newspaper=The Tribune|date=22 July 2006}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.isro.org/scripts/faq.aspx |title=Welcome to Indian Space Research Organisation - FAQ |access-date=2012-03-10 |archive-date=2012-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003165604/http://isro.org/scripts/faq.aspx |url-status=dead }} It weighed {{convert|32|kg}}, had a diameter of {{convert|75|mm|in}} and flew 15 times between November 1967 and September 1968.
= RH-100 =
The RH-100 was a single-stage solid-fuel rocket that was capable of carrying its payload up to an altitude of 55 km or more. When paired with a 650mm long by 40mm wide copper shaft dart used for meteorological research, it was referred to as a Menaka-I rocket.
= RH-125 =
This rocket was launched on October 9, 1971, from Sriharikota. It was a single-stage rocket using a solid propellant,{{Cite web |title=RH-125 |url=http://www.astronautix.com/r/rh-125.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.astronautix.com}} carrying a {{convert|7|kg}} payload to {{convert|19|km}} in altitude. It flew twice between January 1970 and October 1971.
It was used in testing and perfecting various techniques like staging, destruct system, separation devices and clustering. It was also used as a booster to the weather forecasting rockets. As such it was named as Menaka II which worked along with Menaka I.{{Cite web |title=Menaka II |url=http://www.astronautix.com/m/menakaii.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.astronautix.com}}
= RH-200 =
The RH-200 is a two-stage rocket that can reach up to a maximum altitude of {{convert|80|km}}.{{cite news|last=Venugopal|first=P|title=Ten rockets fired to study solar eclipse|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article80825.ece|access-date=11 March 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=15 January 2010}}{{Cite web |title=RH-200 |url=http://www.astronautix.com/r/rh-200.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.astronautix.com}} Solid motors power the first and second stages of the RH-200. A polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based propellant had previously been employed with the RH-200 rocket. In September 2020, a new propellant based on hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) was successfully used to launch it from the TERLS.
= RH-300 =
The RH-300 is a single stage sounding rocket, derived from French Belier rocket engine technology. It has a launch altitude of 100 km (62 mi).
A variant, the RH-300 Mk-II, has a maximum launch altitude of {{convert|116|km}}.{{Cite web |title=RH-300 Mk II |url=http://www.astronautix.com/r/rh-300mkii.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.astronautix.com}} It has ability to lift a payload up to 80 kilograms (20 kg of scientific payload) having volume measuring 380*500 mm in diameter. It is capable of reaching very high acceleration (20 G to M6). Numerous payloads can be tested in a single flight.
= RH-560 =
This two stage vehicle is derived from French Stromboli engine technology.{{Cite web |title=RH-560 |url=http://www.astronautix.com/r/rh-560.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.astronautix.com}} Another variant, the RH-560 Mk-II, can reach a maximum launch altitude of {{convert|548|km}}.{{Cite web |title=RH-560/300 Mk II |url=http://www.astronautix.com/r/rh-560300mkii.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.astronautix.com}} The RH-560 Mk-III variant's maiden flight (the flight was successful) was 12 March 2021.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/isro/status/1370399457833971713/photo/3 |title=Launch of sounding rocket (RH-560) |date=12 March 2021 |accessdate=12 March 2021}} It achieved an apogee of 511.73 kms against the pre-flight prediction of 476 kms. The payloads were Electron and Neutral Wind Probe (ENWi), Langmuir Probe (LP) and Tri Methyl Aluminium (TMA).
= Air-breathing propulsion version =
On 23rd July 2024, ISRO successfully launched world's first air breathing rocket which is a modified version of RH-560.{{Cite web |title=ISRO conducts flight experiment of Air Breathing Propulsion System |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/ISROflightexperimentAirBreathingPropulsionSystem.html |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.isro.gov.in}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-23 |title=Isro successfully conducts second test of Air Breathing Propulsion Technology |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/isro-successfully-conducts-second-test-of-air-breathing-propulsion-technology-2570706-2024-07-23 |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=India Today |language=en}}{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-07-23 |title=ISRO conducts experimental flight of air-breathing propulsion system |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-conducts-experimental-flight-of-air-breathing-propulsion-system/article68432854.ece |access-date=2024-10-25 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
Applications
The RH-200 is used for meteorological studies, the RH-300 Mk-II for Middle atmospheric studies and the RH-560 Mk-II for Upper atmospheric studies and ionospheric studies. The RH-200 was used as the rocket for the first payload launch in India made by students of VIT University in Vellore.{{cite news|title=Isro launches rocket with part made by students|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/isro-launches-rocket-with-part-made-by-students/643498/0|access-date=25 July 2013|newspaper=The Financial Express|date=8 July 2010}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Rocket families}}
{{Suborbital rocket engines}}
{{Indian space programme}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2014}}