Centauro (sounding rocket)

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The Centauro series is a family of Argentinian solid-fuel sounding rockets developed by the Instituto de Investigaciones Aeronauticas y Espaciales (IIAE). This family includes Alfa, Beta, and Gamma Centauro.[1][2][3]

Alfa Centauro was a single-stage rocket, launched in 1961 from Santo Tomás base.

Beta Centauro followed the same year, demonstrating two-stage capability and leading to advancements in payload delivery and high altitude measurements. Further launches from Santo Tomás and CELPA Chamical refined rocketry techniques. Notably, the "sodium cloud" operation in 1963 provided valuable atmospheric data.

The Gamma Centauro, also a two-stage vehicle, was tested after 1964, notably from Antarctica.[4]

  1. ^ Parczewski, Juan (2005). "Cohete Alfa Centauro". El sitio de Cohetería Experimental Amateur de Juan Parczewski. Archived from the original on 2012-01-10. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  2. ^ "Gamma Centauro". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  3. ^ "NTI: Country Overviews: Argentina: Missile Chronology". Nuclear Threat Initiative. 2006-02-19. Archived from the original on 2006-02-19. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  4. ^ Sánchez-Peña, Miguel (2000-07-01). "Scientific experiences using Argentinean sounding rockets in Antarctica". Acta Astronautica. Space an Integral Part of the Information Age. 47 (2): 301–307. Bibcode:2000AcAau..47..301S. doi:10.1016/S0094-5765(00)00071-0. ISSN 0094-5765.