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Aries

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Aries Credit: via Andreas Parsch

Status: Active. First Launch: 1973-10-17. Last Launch: 1996-07-09. Number: 47 . Thrust: 200.00 kN (44,960 lbf). Gross mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Height: 9.20 m (30.10 ft). Diameter: 1.16 m (3.80 ft). Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

The Naval Research Laboratory contracted with Space Vector Corporation to develop a single-stage sounding rocket using surplus Minuteman I second stages. Informally called 'Fat Albert', the first was launched with a dummy payload on 17 October 1973.

The Aries mated the Aerojet M56 solid-propellant rocket stage to four fixed tail fins (surplus from retired Talos missiles) and a nose cone. Four gimbaled nozzles provided steering, keyed by a new guidance and control system. Since it was not an unguided rocket, the Aries could be launched from confined firing ranges. The Aries was later used by NASA to launch X-ray and UV telescopes into space. Maximum payload capacity was 1590 kg / 3500 lb. USAF and NASA launched more than 20 Aries rockets on scientific missions until the early 1990s.

The Aries was also used by the military as a target launch vehicle for tests of anti-ballistic missiles. The majority of these tests launched targets for the U.S. Navy's RIM-156B SM-2 Block IV A and RIM-161 SM-3 interceptor missiles. Until the end of 2004, a total of more than 50 Aries rockets had been launched, and use as a ballistic missile target vehicle is continuing. Prime contractor for Aries-type target boosters was later Orbital Sciences Corporation, which renamed the rocket the TTV (Target Test Vehicle).

Historical Essay © Andreas Parsch

The retirement of the U.S. Air Force's LGM-30A-B Minuteman I ICBM in the late 1960s and early 1970s made hundreds of high-performance solid-fueled rocket stages surplus. In 1971, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) realized, that the second stage of the Minuteman I could be used to create a powerful single-stage sounding rocket, and contracted Space Vector Corp. (SVC) to build this vehicle. The rocket was initially called "Fat Albert", but the name was soon changed to Aries. The first Aries was successfully launched with a dummy payload on 17 October 1973.

The Aries was essentially an Aerojet M56 solid-propellant rocket stage fitted with four fixed tail fins and a nose cone. The M56 was steered by four gimballed nozzles, and SVC developed a new guidance and control system which was more suited to sounding rockets than the one of the ICBM. Other than most sounding rockets, the Aries was thus a fully guided missile and could therefore be used from relatively confined firing ranges. It was also by far the most powerful single-stage sounding vehicle, and could lift a payload of 820 kg (1800 lb) to more than 320 km (200 miles). The highest apogee reached by an Aries was 512 km (318 miles).

After the first two Aries tests, the configuration was slightly changed. The tail skirt was altered and the original fins (which had been taken from surplus RIM-8 Talos missiles) were replaced by a new design. The Aries was used by NASA to launch especially large and heavy payloads above the atmosphere, like X-ray and UV telescopes. Maximum payload capacity was 1590 kg (3500 lb). USAF and NASA launched more than 20 Aries rockets on scientific missions until the early 1990s.

The Aries was also used by the military as a target launch vehicle for tests of anti-ballistic missiles. The majority of these tests launched targets for the U.S. Navy's RIM-156B SM-2 Block IV A and RIM-161 SM-3 interceptor missiles. Until the end of 2004, a total of more than 50 Aries rockets has been launched, and use as a ballistic missile target vehicle is continuing. Current prime contractor for Aries-type target boosters is Orbital Sciences Corporation, which is calling the rocket the TTV (Target Test Vehicle).

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

• Length 7.80 m (25 ft 7 in) - 10.62 m (34 ft 10 in)
• Diameter 1.13 m (44.4 in)
• Finspan 2.86 m (9 ft 4.5 in)
• Weight 6060 kg (13370 lb) - 7150 kg (15760 lb)
• Altitude > 320 km (200 miles)
• Propulsion Aerojet M56 solid-fueled rocket; 207 kN (46500 lb) for 62 s

ERIS American anti-ballistic missile. Flight test vehicle for Exoatmospheric Re-Entry Interceptor Subsystem, an anti-ballistic missile hit-to-kill interceptor warhead. The ERIS vehicle itself consisted of surplus Minuteman ICBM second and third stages.

• Dummy payload test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

• Test / astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• Crab Occultation Astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

• IMS Prototype test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 417 km (259 mi).

• DLR K-AR-75 Porc. F1 Magnetospheric mission - . Nation: Germany. Agency: DLR, NASA. Apogee: 360 km (220 mi).

• IMS Test Rocket Test / astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 512 km (318 mi).

• Astro 8-1 (A8) X-ray astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 347 km (215 mi).

• DLR K-AR-82 Porc. F2 Magnetospheric mission - . Nation: Germany. Agency: DLR, NASA. Apogee: 460 km (280 mi).

• TEM-1 ABM infrared sensor technology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 228 km (141 mi).

  The first launch in the Multi-spectral Measurements Program took place at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. During the experiment, the sensor module did not obtain the necessary data and was later destroyed when its parachute failed to deploy properly.

• Astro 8-2 X-ray astronomy / microgravity mission - . Nation: Germany. Agency: DFVLR. Apogee: 355 km (220 mi).

• Aries MSMP launch abort. - .

  The second launch in the Multispectral Measurements Program was attempted at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. During the pre-launch countdown, some squibs fired prematurely and separated the payload from the booster while it was still on the launch pad. This accident forced cancellation of the launch.

• SPICE 1 Infrared astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 249 km (154 mi).

• DLR K-AR-92 Porc. F3 Magnetospheric mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 460 km (280 mi).

• DLR K-AR-93 Porc. F4 Magnetospheric mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 452 km (280 mi).

• Aries MSMP launch abort. - .

  A launch of the Multispectral Measurements Program (MSMP) at White Sands Missile Range in Nex Mexico was aborted 30 seconds before lift-off when a sensor falsely reported the nozzle was faulty. The launch was postponed until the booster could be recertified.

• TEM-2 ABM infrared / ultraviolet sensor technology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 232 km (144 mi).

• ZIP I (BMP) Infrared astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 401 km (249 mi).

• LCXT X-ray astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 309 km (192 mi).

• IRBS (BMP) ABM infrared sensor limb characterization technology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 387 km (240 mi).

• JHU Aries-UVT Ultraviolet astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 263 km (163 mi).

• ZIP II (BMP) Infrared astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 395 km (245 mi).

• FIRSSE (BMP) ABM infrared sensor technology / infrared technology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 378 km (234 mi).

• TEM-3 ABM infrared sensor technology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 236 km (146 mi).

• 1m UVT Extreme ultraviolet astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 247 km (153 mi).

• Conestoga 1 test - . Nation: Germany. Agency: DLR, SSI. Apogee: 309 km (192 mi). Launch vehicle using surplus Minuteman I components. The launch from Matagorda Island for was for publicity purposes and unrelated to Space Service's other planned launch vehicles, also named Conestoga..

• SPICE 2 Infrared astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 359 km (223 mi).

• ELC-I (infrared limb) Infrared astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 282 km (175 mi).

• Ultraviolet astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• X-ray astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 23 km (14 mi).

• Delta 180 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SDIO. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• ABM infrared sensor technology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• Recovery failed ABM infrared sensor technology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• ABM infrared sensor technology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• BEAR Active plasma mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 195 km (121 mi).

  The Beam Experiment Aboard Rocket (BEAR) payload was recovered with minimal damage via parachute after an 11-minute flight to a maximum altitude of 195 km. The neutral partical beam experiment was provided by Los Alamos National Laboratory. The Attitude Control System spun-up the payload at various rates and orientations with respect to the earths magnetic field after separation from the booster. After re-entry, at 5,000 m, the nose was jettisoned and the recovery parachute system deployed. The payload impacted the ground at less than 30 feet per second. The BEAR mission was declared a total success by SDIO.

• EXCEDE-3 Active plasma mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 116 km (72 mi).

• Technology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 2.00 km (1.20 mi).

• SXT / XOGS X-ray astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SDIO. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 2.00 km (1.20 mi).

• Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: SDIO. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 320 km (190 mi). LEAP-1. Missile Tracking and Discrimination for SDIO..

• Technology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 320 km (190 mi).

• Technology test - . Nation: USA. Agency: SDIO. Apogee: 330 km (200 mi). LEAP-2. Missile Tracking and Discrimination for SDIO..

• SPFE-3 / Orbus 1 Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: SDIO. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). LEAP-3. Missile Tracking and Discrimination for SDIO..

• Technology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: BMDO, OSC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• SXT / XOGS X-ray astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 8.00 km (4.90 mi).

• LEAP FTV-TD - . Nation: USA. Agency: BMDO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: BMDO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• LEAP FTV-3 Target Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: BMDO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• LEAP FTV-4 Target Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: BMDO. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). LEAP-4. Missile Tracking and Discrimination for SDIO..

• TBM tracking test target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SM. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

  The Airborne Interceptor Experiment) was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of intercepting enemy theater ballistic missiles during early-boost. The Aries Target Launch Vehicle was launched from Wallops Island, flying a boost trajectory similar to a real theater ballistic missile. The missile was detected and tracked by Air Force F-15s, Navy F-14s, an Air Force infrared sensor tracking platform and by fleet surface ships of the US Atlantic Command. The data collected was used to develop an air-launched anti-ballistic missile system.