Scout X-1A

ManufacturerVought
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height22 metres (72 ft)
Diameter1.01 metres (3 ft 4 in)
Mass17,000 kilograms (37,000 lb)
StagesFive
Associated rockets
FamilyScout
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesWallops LA-3
Total launches1
Success(es)1
Failure(s)0
UTC date of spacecraft launch1962-03-01
First stage – Algol 1C
Powered by1 solid
Maximum thrust471 kilonewtons (106,000 lbf)
Specific impulse236 sec
Burn time40 seconds
PropellantSolid
Second stage – Castor 1A
Powered by1 solid
Maximum thrust286 kilonewtons (64,000 lbf)
Specific impulse247 sec
Burn time27 seconds
PropellantSolid
Third stage – Antares 1A
Powered by1 X-254
Maximum thrust60 kilonewtons (13,000 lbf)
Specific impulse256 sec
Burn time39 seconds
PropellantSolid
Fourth stage – Altair 1A
Powered by1 X-248A
Maximum thrust14 kilonewtons (3,100 lbf)
Specific impulse255 sec
Burn time40 seconds
PropellantSolid
Fifth stage – NOTS-17
Powered by1 solid
PropellantSolid

Scout X-1A was an American sounding rocket which was flown in 1962. It was a five-stage derivative of the earlier Scout X-1, with an uprated first stage, and a NOTS-17 upper stage.

The Scout X-1A used an Algol 1C first stage, instead of the earlier Algol 1B used on the Scout X-1. The second, third and fourth stages were the same as those used on the Scout X-1; a Castor 1A, Antares 1A and Altair 1A respectively. The fifth stage was the NOTS-17 solid rocket motor, which had been developed by the Naval Ordnance Test Station.

The Scout X-1A was launched on its only flight at 05:07 GMT on 1 March 1962. It flew from Launch Area 3 of the Wallops Flight Facility. The flight carried an atmospheric re-entry experiment to an apogee of 214 kilometres (133 mi), and was successful. Following this, the Scout X-1A was replaced by the Scout X-2.