The RM-90 Blue Scout II was an American sounding rocket and expendable launch system which was flown three times during 1961. It was a member of the Scout family of rockets. Blue Scout II was a military version of the NASA-operated Scout X-1, with adjustments to the payload fairings, engine nozzles and fins.
Blue Scout II had a total length of 21.65 m and a finspan of 2.84 m.
It was capable of sending a 30 kg payload to a 300 km orbit at 28.00 degrees. It was a four stage vehicle, with the following engines:
Stage 1: Algol 1B, solid propellant;
Stage 2: Castor 2 (TX-354-3), solid propellant;
Stage 3: Antares 1A (Star 31/X-254), solid propellant;
Stage 4: Altair 1A (X-248), solid propellant.
Blue Scout II was used for two HETS test flights, and the launch of the Mercury-Scout 1 satellite for NASA. This rocket and RM-89 Blue Scout I were replaced by Blue Scout Junior.
Blue Scout II parameters Parameter1st Stage2nd Stage3rd Stage4th StageGross Mass10,705 kg4,424 kg1,225 kg238 kgEmpty Mass1,900 kg695 kg294 kg30 kgThrust470 kN259 kN60.5 kN12.4 kNIsp214 s (2.10 kNs/kg)262 s (2.57 kNs/kg)256 s (2.51 kNs/kg)256 s (2.51 kNs/kg)Burn time40 s37 s39 s38 sLength9.12 m6.04 m3.38 m1.83 mDiameter1.01 m0.79 m0.78 m0.46 mEngine:Aerojet General Algol 1Thiokol XM33 (TX-354-3) Castor 2Allegany Ballistics Lab X-254 Antares 1AAllegany Ballistics Lab X-248 Altair 1PropellantSolidSolidSolidSolid
Launches All three Blue Scout II launches occurred from Launch Complex 18B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the same launch pad used for the Blue Scout I.
The first two launches were successfully conducted on 3 March and 12 April 1961 respectively, using vehicles D-4 and D-5. They both carried HETS A2 plasma research experiments on suborbital trajectories.
The third launch was conducted on 1 November, using vehicle D-8, with the Mercury-Scout 1 satellite for NASA, which was intended to reach low Earth orbit. The launch failed after the rocket went out of control, and was destroyed by the range safety officer 43 seconds after liftoff. DateSerialAgencyOrbitMission Description1961 March 3D-4USAFSuborbital, 2540 km apogeeHETS A2-1 plasma mission1961 April 12D-5USAFSuborbital, 1931 km apogeeHETS A2-2 plasma mission1961 November 1D-8USAF373 km × 643 km, 32.5° (planned)Mercury-Scout 1 (failure)
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