ASP (Atmospheric Sounding Projectile) is the designation of an American sounding rocket family.[1] [2] [3] [4] ASP was used for a variety of uses, including research into hypersonic speed and to propel rocket sleds. In NASA service it was flown from a number of locations as a sounding rocket.[5] The selection by NASA of the Apache and Javelin rockets for the jobs performed by ASP led to its retirement.[6]
ASP-I was used to sample nuclear explosions and resultant clouds[7] The ASP was the fastest single stage sounding rocket when developed.[8] The Asp was manufactured by Cooper Development Corporation, California.[9] The solid propellant motor was made by Grand Central Rocket company.
The ASP-I has a payload ability of 11 kg, a maximum flight height of 110 km, a takeoff thrust of 42.00 kN, a mass of 111 kg, a diameter of 0.17 m, a length of 3.68 m and a fin span of 0.51 m.
ASP-I was launched 30 times from December 1, 1955 to June 14, 1962 from White Sands, Cape Canaveral, Point Mugu, Bikini, China Lake, Mercury site and Tonopah.[10]
ASP-II[11] (Cleansweep I) had a slightly lower total impulse and a significantly shorter burn time (3.6 seconds vs. 5.6).[12] Cleansweep I was used to collect particulate air sample from nuclear explosions at the Nevada Test Range.[13] It was launched once in 1959 from Tonopah with an apogee of 30 km.
ASP-III[14] (Cleansweep II) had slightly lower specs.[15] It was also modified for use in the South Pacific. Two or four LOKI rockets were strapped on the basic ASP. Results were less than expected and ASP-III was a failure.[16] It was launched four times from White Sands between 1957 and 1958.
ASP-IV[17] used an ASP motor case with B.F. Goodrich E-107M propellant.[18] It was launched two times, on May 18 and 19, 1960 from Wallops Island to an apogee of 80 km.
ASP-V was to utilize a polysulfide propellant but erratic burning and resultant burn through proved insoluble. ASP-V was canceled.[19]
ASP was combined with a Nike booster to create the ASPAN which exceeded performance of the Nike-Cajun and Nike Deacon.[20]
This is a single stage vehicle using an ASP motor, intended as a high-altitude radar target.[21] It was launched three times from White Sands in 1959 to an apogee of 60 km.
When ASP-I was combined with a one-fifth scale Sergeant this was designates as ASCAMP[22] (also known as Nike-ASP[23]). ASCAMP had to be launched from a remotely controlled launcher due to the necessary closeness to the nuclear blast.[24] It was launched 27 times in August 1958 from Johnston Island to an apogee of 100 km.
The following table summarizes the various ASP versions and stages:
| ASP-I | - | ASP-I | - | |
| ASP-II | - | ASP-II | - | |
| ASP-III | 2 or 4 Loki | ASP-II | - | |
| ASP-IV | - | ASP-IV | - | |
| Pogo-Hi-3 | - | ASP-I | - | |
| ASCAMP | - | ASP-I | RM-3141 (Baby Sergeant) | |
| ASP Apache | - | ASP-I | Apache / TE-307-2 |