Terasca

The Terrier-ASROC-Cajun ("Terasca") rocket was developed during early 1959 by the Naval Ordnance Test Station, located at China Lake, California, to fill a U.S. Navy requirement for a three-stage sounding rocket, intended to launch experimental payloads for conducting high-altitude research.FAA 2005, p.37.The Rocketeer, Nov. 1993 The rocket utilised a combination of existing missiles in its construction; the first stage was a Terrier surface-to-air missile; an ASROC anti-submarine rocket made up the second stage, while a Cajun sounding rocket was utilised as a third stage.Parsch 2024

The Terrier first stage produced {{convert|258|kN|abbr=on|disp=flip}} thrust, while the ASROC second stage provided {{convert|49|kN|abbr=on|disp=flip}},Chant 1990, p.236. and the third-stage Cajun motor had a thrust rated at {{convert|36|kN|abbr=on|disp=flip}}. The theoretical apogee for Terasca was {{convert|98|mi}}; it could carry a scientific payload of up to {{convert|25|lb}}.Corliss 1971, p.83.

Three launch attempts of the Terasca missile were made from the launch facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base during 1959, utilising the Western Launch and Test Range. The first launch attempt took place on May 1; this launch was a failure.{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/tercajun.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030904155030/http://astronautix.com/lvs/tercajun.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2003 |title=Terrier ASROC Cajun |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Astronautica |accessdate=2011-01-15}} A second launch attempt on June 26, however, was successful, with the rocket reaching an apogee of {{convert|60|mi}}. A third launch, attempted on August 12, however, was also a failure; following the third launch, the Terasca program came to a close.

;Notes

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;Bibliography

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• {{cite book |last1=Chant |first1=Christopher |title=Sea Forces of the World |year=1990 |publisher=Crescent Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0-517-69129-8 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/seaforcesofworld00rhva }}
• {{cite book |last1=Corliss |first1=William R. |title=NASA SOUNDING ROCKETS, 1958-1968: A Historical Summary |url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4401/app-a.htm |accessdate=2011-01-15 |volume=SP-4401 |series=The NASA Historical Report Series |year=1971 |publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration Scientific and Technical Information Office |location=Washington, D.C. |asin=B0006C0SRW }}
• {{cite journal |date=November 4, 1993 |title=China Lake Weapons Digest: 50 Years of Providing the Fleet with the Tools of the Trade |journal=The Rocketeer |location=China Lake, CA |publisher=Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake |at=U.S. Naval Museum of Armament & Technology |accessdate=2011-01-15 |url=http://www.chinalakemuseum.org/history/weaponsdigest.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227092935/http://www.chinalakemuseum.org/history/weaponsdigest.htm |archivedate=December 27, 2010 }}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/Suborbital_Report.pdf |title=Suborbital Reusable Launch Vehicles and Emerging Markets |date=February 2005 |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation |accessdate=2011-01-15}}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/other.html |title=(Other): "Missile Scrapbook" |first=Andreas |last=Parsch |year=2024 |work=Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles |publisher=designation-systems.net |accessdate=2011-01-15}}

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{{Cajun rockets}}

Category:Sounding rockets of the United States

Category:Equipment of the United States Navy