Private (missile)

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Private A

placeholder for image
Type experimental[1] step rocket
Place of origin United States
Production history
Manufacturer GALCIT
Specifications
Propellant solid fuel
Operational
range		 10 miles (16.1 km)
Speed maximum:
Guidance
system		 fin-stabilized[1]
Launch
platform		 rail-type launcher[1]
Launch sites:

The Private was the first U.S. step rocket,[2] combining a Tiny Tim rocket and a 30AS-1000C JATO unit.[1] Tsien Hsue-shen was the JPL section leader who directed research for the Private A.[3]

The Private preceded the MGM-5 Corporal surface-to-surface missile.

[edit] Timeline for the Private (missile)

  • January 1943: Major General Barnes requested the Cal Tech group proceed[4] on the ORDCIT Project,[1] which named their first rocket Private A. [4]
  • December 1-16, 1944: Private A test launches (24) were conducted at Leach Spring on Camp Irwin. [4]
  • April 1-13, 1945: Private F (a Private A with wings)[1] test launches (17) were conducted by JPL employees[5]at Hueco Range on Ft Bliss[4] (all Private Ftest round went into a tailspin.)[1]

[edit] References and Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Bluth, John. Malina, Frank Joseph (html). American National Biography Online. American National Biography. Retrieved on 2008-06-13.

    [edit] ORDCIT Project

    ORDCIT was an Ordnance Corps project conducted with GALCIT (later with JPL) that developed the Private and MGM-5 Corporal missiles. Frank Malina was the ORDCIT director.
  2. ^ Corporal History. U.S. Army.
  3. ^ Perrett, Bradley (2008-01-06). Qian Xuesen Laid Foundation For Space Rise in China. Aviation Week & Space Technology.
  4. ^ a b c d Ley, Willy [1944] (1951 - revised edition 1958). Rockets, Missiles and Space Travel. New York: The Viking Press, p250. 
  5. ^ Bluth, John. Von Karman, Malina laid the groundwork for the future JPL. JPL.
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