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#1
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Scout X-1 question
Hello All,
Peter Alway's booklet "Rockets of the World: 2000 Supplement" covers the Scout X-1 vehicle (the first one flown [in a suborbital shot], number ST-1), on pages 10 and 11. The fourth Scout X-1 round flown, ST-4, orbited the 12' diameter Explorer 9 satelloon (satellite balloon, the first of several such 12' satelloons). Now: Did Explorer 9's Scout X-1 ST-4 (the first all-solid propellant launch vehicle to orbit a satellite) have a paint scheme the same as--or very nearly the same as--ST-1 that is depicted in the booklet? Many thanks in advance to anyone who could help with this!
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR |
#2
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Here's a pic (Wikipedia) of the launch of Explorer 9.
The Scout X-1 vehicle appears identical to the drawing in Alway's supplement. But you decide. FWIW.
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I like the unusual, the off beat, the avant-garde. No 3/4 FNC for me! |
#3
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Quote:
ST-1 had a 20" diameter uppermost payload fairing, but that of ST-4 was ~24.80" in diameter (converted from 0.63 m, as shown on page 27 *here*: https://commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewco...ess-proceedings ). It--the 0.63 m figure--may be referencing the payload fairing length, but comparing ST-1 and ST-4 photographs shows the ST-4 (Explorer 9) Scout X-1's payload fairing to have been wider than ST-1's. (The USAF's Thor-Burner I, also called the Thor-Altair https://www-b14643-de.translate.goo...&_x_tr_sch=http , also used what appear to have been both the narrow [20"--or ~24.80"?--diameter] and bulbous Scout payload fairings.) Pictures of both Scout X-1 rounds, ST-1 and ST-4 (Explorer 9), show paint scheme differences between them: These two Scout rounds' paint schemes were very similar, but not identical. The vertical "UNITED STATES" lettering on ST-1's Algol first stage rocket motor was larger than the same lettering on ST-4's first stage, and ST-1 didn't have horizontal, smaller-font lettering reading "ST-1" between the bottom of the "UNITED STATES" lettering and the top of the "vertical hash marks" (short vertical lines) roll pattern, which was close above the vehicle's fin assembly. The vertical "UNITED STATES" lettering on ST-4's first stage was slightly smaller in font size than ST-1's, and the round designation ("ST-4") was painted, in horizontal lettering of smaller font size, between the bottom of the "UNITED STATES" vertical lettering and the roll pattern.
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR Last edited by blackshire : 10-21-2021 at 12:14 AM. |
#4
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I had to re-draw the color scheme for the First Scout X-1 flight because I stumbled into color photos showing some fluorescent red and orange fins on the first three scouts. The explorer 9 scout hadno red or orange on the fins. The first flight had some weird stencil lettering unlike the UNITED STATES lettering on later scouts. I'v made the changes in my drawings, but don't have them handy.
The Explorer 9 payload fairing is different from the esarlier flights. Unfortunately, I don't have my sources with me right now, so i can't be more useful. |
#5
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Quote:
That Scout vehicle had a wider (the same diameter as the Antares third stage, if memory serves) fairing, with a short, radiused-tip nose, that fit over the Altair fourth stage; that particular vehicle had only "live" first and third stages, with stages 2 and 4 being dummies. Its paint scheme was odd, with a dark nose and two dark vertical rectangles running down opposite sides of the rocket--I wouldn't be at all surprised if that round had fluorescent red and orange markings on it. Also: If what I'm working on works out, a kit of Scout X-1 ST-4 (Explorer 9) will result.
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR |
#6
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ST-4 in color . . .
Dave F. |
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