| Bold Orion | |
| Origin: | United States |
| Type: | Air-launched ballistic missile |
| Is Missile: | yes |
| Service: | 1958–1959 |
| Used By: | United States Air Force |
| Design Date: | 1958 |
| Manufacturer: | Martin Aircraft |
| Number: | 12 |
| Spec Label: | Two-stage version |
| Length: | 37feet |
| Diameter: | 31inches |
| Engine: | First stage, Thiokol TX-20 Sergeant; 6.66kN |
| Engine Power: | Second stage, ABL X-248 Altair; 12.45kN |
| Vehicle Range: | 1100miles |
| Propellant: | Solid fuel |
| Launch Platform: | B-47 Stratojet |
The Bold Orion missile, also known as Weapons System 199B (WS-199B), was a prototype air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) developed by Martin Aircraft during the 1950s. Developed in both one- and two-stage designs, the missile was moderately successful in testing, and helped pave the way for development of the GAM-87 Skybolt ALBM. In addition, the Bold Orion was used in early anti-satellite weapons testing, performing the first interception of a satellite by a missile.
The Bold Orion missile was developed as part of Weapons System 199, initiated by the United States Air Force (USAF) in response to the U.S. Navy's Polaris program,[1] with funding authorised by the United States Congress in 1957.[2] The purpose of WS-199 was the development of technology that would be used in new strategic weapons for the USAF's Strategic Air Command, not to deliver operational weapons; a primary emphasis was on proving the feasibility of an air-launched ballistic missile.[2] [3] [4]
The designation WS-199B was assigned to the project that, under a contract awarded in 1958 to Martin Aircraft, would become the Bold Orion missile.[3] The design of Bold Orion was simple, using parts developed for other missile systems to reduce the cost and development time of the project.[3] The initial Bold Orion configuration was a single-stage vehicle, using a Thiokol TX-20 Sergeant solid-fuel rocket.[3] [5] Following initial testing, the Bold Orion configuration was altered to become a two-stage vehicle, an Allegany Ballistics Laboratory Altair upper stage being added to the missile.[3] [6]
Having been given top priority by the Air Force,[7] the first flight test of the Bold Orion missile was conducted on May 26, 1958, from a Boeing B-47 Stratojet carrier aircraft,[3] [8] which launched the Bold Orion vehicle at the apex of a high-speed, high-angle climb.[3] [9] The zoom climb tactic, combined with the thrust from the rocket motor of the missile itself, allowed the missile to achieve its maximum range, or, alternatively, to reach space.[9]
A twelve-flight test series of the Bold Orion vehicle was conducted;.[3] Despite suffering only one outright failure, the initial flight tests of the single-stage rocket proved less successful than hoped.[3] Authorisation was received to modify the Bold Orion to become a two-stage vehicle. In addition to the modifications improving the missile's reliability, they increased the range of Bold Orion to over .[4] [10] Four of the final six test firings were of the two-stage vehicle. These were considered successful, and established that the ALBM was a viable weapon.[2] [3]
The final test launch of Bold Orion, conducted on October 13, 1959, was a test of the vehicle's capabilities in the anti-satellite role.[11] Piloted by Carl E Brust Jr, the missile was launched from an altitude of 35000feet from its B-47 mothership, the missile successfully intercepted the Explorer 6 satellite,[12] passing its target at a range of less than 4miles at an altitude of 156miles.[13] [3] If the missile had a nuclear warhead, the satellite would have been destroyed.[9] [14]
The Bold Orion ASAT test was the first interception of a satellite by any method, proving that anti-satellite missiles were feasible.[15] [16] This test, along with an earlier, unsuccessful test of the High Virgo missile in the anti-satellite role, had political repercussions. The Eisenhower administration sought to establish space as a neutral ground for everyone's use, and the "indication of hostile intent" given by the tests was frowned upon, with anti-satellite weapons development being soon curtailed.[9] [17]
The results of the Bold Orion project, along with those from the testing of the High Virgo missile, also developed under WS-199, provided data and knowledge that assisted the Air Force in forming the requirements for the follow-on WS-138A, which would produce the GAM-87 Skybolt missile.[3] [18]
| Date/Time (GMT) | Rocket | Launch site | Outcome | Remarks[19] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958-05-26 | Single-stage | Apogee 8km (05miles) | |||
| 1958-06-27 | Single-stage | Cape Canaveral | Apogee 12km (07miles) | ||
| 1958-07-18 | Single-stage | Cape Canaveral | Apogee 100km (100miles) | ||
| 1958-09-25 | Single-stage | Cape Canaveral | Apogee 100km (100miles) | ||
| 1958-10-10 | Single-stage | Cape Canaveral | Apogee 100km (100miles) | ||
| 1958-11-17 | Single-stage | Cape Canaveral | Apogee 100km (100miles) | ||
| 1958-12-08 | Two-stage | Cape Canaveral | Apogee 200km (100miles) | ||
| 1958-12-16 | Two-stage | Cape Canaveral | Apogee 200km (100miles) | ||
| 1959-04-04 | Two-stage | Apogee 200km (100miles) | |||
| 1959-06-08 | Single-stage | AMR DZ | Apogee 100km (100miles) | ||
| 1959-06-19 | Single-stage | Cape Canaveral | Apogee 100km (100miles) | ||
| 1959-10-13 | Two-stage | AMR DZ | Apogee 200km (100miles) |
AMR DZ means Atlantic Missile Range Drop Zone.
