Nike Orion is the designation of a two-stage American elevator research rocket, with a Nike base stage and an Orion upper stage. The Nike Orion is 9 m long, has a diameter of 0.42 m, a launch weight of 1100 kilograms (2420 lb), a launch thrust of 217 kN (48,800 lbf) and a ceiling of 140 km (460,000 ft).