Project Organization

In general all national sounding rocket projects are performed by Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA). This starts by selecting the appropriate carrier vehicle for the mission and the appropriate Launching Range. Negotiations for using the Range are carried out by MORABA and in cases where the Range is not fully equipped to the requirements of the project, the facilities are complemented by MORABA stations such as launcher, telemetry or tracking stations.

Trajectory and stability calculations are performed by MORABA to ensure correct vehicle performance. All Range safety requests i.e. nominal trajectory; vehicle dispersion; wind weighting function; handling of explosives and hazardous material are negotiated between the Range and MORABA. In addition all logistic questions of transport; customs; launch periods, and accommodation for compaign participants are arranged with the Range Authorities.

During the campaign all activities are coordinated by MORABA. The assembly of the vehicle is performed by the launch team, while payload and experiment preparation of telemetry payload checkout and transponder tests are supported during all system checks. In cooperation with the Range, according to safety regulations and payload requirements, a "Count Down Procedure" is established for launching.

The final preparation of rocket motors, payloads and experiments is performed during the launch countdown. After lift off TM and TV data are received during flight, displayed in real time and recorded on tape for further evaluation. Via a TC link experiments can be controlled during flight. The trajectory is recorded by radar either in skin track or transponder mode and displayed in real-time. Derived from Radar track and TM slant range data an IIP (Instantaneous Impact Prediction) calculation can be performed.

This gives the actual impact point already at the end of the powered phase, long before the end of the ballistic flight. In case of any indication of a malfunction of the rocket system during the boost phase, the flight can be terminated by the range safety officer via telecommand. After the end of the boost phase, rocket motor and payload are separated and the payload can be rate controlled or pointed to any desired target in the sky for measurements.

On the down leg between 6 to 4.6 km the parachute system is deployed to decellerate the payload to an impact speed of approximately 7.6 m/sec. The payload is retrieved by helicopter and flown back to the Range. The average time from lift off to payload back on Range is one hour, which is very important for biological experiments in the micro gravity program.

Due to the soft landing, payload and experiments remain undamaged and can be refurbished and reflown, which lowers costs considerably.