PeterAlway
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2011
- Messages
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Many years ago, in the early 1990's, when I was first working on my "Rockets of the World" project, I stumbled into some references to the Nike-Nike Smoke. Then back in 2003, someone emailed me a single photo of a Nike-Nike with a smoke payload. Tantalizing, but not scale data. Last year, someone told me about more photos that they found. Great shots, but no dimensions. Then over the winter, I found an Air Force Geophysics Laboratory report on those rockets, with payload dimensions. I was about to draw up some data when my vintage iMac's power supply died. Finally, last month, I manage to do a brain transplant and get the machine up and running again. So now I actually can present to you a drawing of the elusive Nike-Nike Smoke.
Here is a photograph to match.
Unlike the familiar Nike Smoke, the smoke chemicals are forced out by presurized nitrogen in the conical nose. I believe this is because the air was too thin at altitude for ram air pressure to work. This means there is a nice pointy nosecone. The blue cylindrical section held tanks for both Titanium Tetrachloride and an alcohol/water mix. I believe they needed the water/acohol because there wasn't enough moisture at altitude to react with the TiCl4.
Also notice that each stage has 3 fins of a different design from the Nike Smoke we know and love. These are essentially clipped Nike Ajax fins.
This rocket flew in May of 1978 from Wallops Island. There were two flights a couple of days apart, and I have photos of both, but I don't know which is which. They look the same except for the stenciling.
I have to thank Dr. Bob Kreutz for the new photos and for decyphering the stencils from those photos.
I hope someone has fun with this!
Peter Alway
Here is a photograph to match.
Unlike the familiar Nike Smoke, the smoke chemicals are forced out by presurized nitrogen in the conical nose. I believe this is because the air was too thin at altitude for ram air pressure to work. This means there is a nice pointy nosecone. The blue cylindrical section held tanks for both Titanium Tetrachloride and an alcohol/water mix. I believe they needed the water/acohol because there wasn't enough moisture at altitude to react with the TiCl4.
Also notice that each stage has 3 fins of a different design from the Nike Smoke we know and love. These are essentially clipped Nike Ajax fins.
This rocket flew in May of 1978 from Wallops Island. There were two flights a couple of days apart, and I have photos of both, but I don't know which is which. They look the same except for the stenciling.
I have to thank Dr. Bob Kreutz for the new photos and for decyphering the stencils from those photos.
I hope someone has fun with this!
Peter Alway