Scout X-2M

Scout X-2M
Function Expendable launch system
Manufacturer Vought
Country of origin  United States
Size
Height 22 metres (72 ft)
Diameter 1.02 metres (3 ft 4 in)
Mass 17,000 kilograms (37,000 lb)
Stages Four
Associated rockets
Family Scout
Launch history
Status Retired
Launch sites Point Arguello LC-D
Total launches 3
Successes 1
Failures 2
Maiden flight 1962-05-24
Last flight 1963-04-26
First Stage - Algol 1D
Engines 1 solid
Thrust 440 kilonewtons (99,000 lbf)
Burn time 44 seconds
Fuel Solid
Second Stage - Castor 1A
Engines 1 solid
Thrust 286 kilonewtons (64,000 lbf)
Specific impulse 247 sec
Burn time 27 seconds
Fuel Solid
Third Stage - Antares 2A
Engines 1 X-254
Thrust 93 kilonewtons (21,000 lbf)
Specific impulse 293 sec
Burn time 36 seconds
Fuel Solid
Fourth Stage - MG-18
Engines 1 Solid
Thrust
Fuel Solid

Scout X-2M was an American expendable launch system which was flown three times between May 1962 and April 1963. It was a four stage rocket, based on the earlier Scout X-2, but with an MG-18 upper stage instead of the Altair used on the X-2. It was a member of the Scout family of rockets.

The Scout X-2 was an all-solid rocket, with an Algol 1D first stagea Castor 1A second stage, an Antares 2A third stage, and an MG-18 fourth stage. It was launched from Launch Complex D at Point Arguello, and was used for the launch of P-35 weather satellites.

The first Scout X-2M was launched 24 May 1962, carrying P35-1, but failed to reach orbit. The second flight, launched at 11:44 GMT on 23 August, was the only successful launch to be made by an X-2M, placing P35-2 into low Earth orbit. The final launch, with P35-4 occurred on 26 April 1963, and like the first flight, it failed to reach orbit.

References