Castor A


The Castor A was an Argentine sounding rocket designed in 1969 by the Instituto de Investigaciones Aeronáuticas y Espaciales.
The rocket featured a two-stage configuration, utilizing five Canopus II rockets. It was capable of placing a 75 kg payload at a 400 km altitude.
Throughout its operational lifespan, the Castor A was launched seven times. Experiencing one failed launch, it had a success rate of approximately 83.3%.

Launches

Castor was launched seven times:
DateMission TypeNationAgencyApogeeLaunch site
December 22, 1969Test missionArgentinaIIAE52 kmCELPA Chamical
December 19, 1970Test missionArgentinaIIAE45 kmCELPA Chamical
November 22, 1973Ion beam Ionosphere missionGermanyMPE406 kmCELPA Chamical
September 30, 1975Ionosphere missionGermanyMPE400 kmVice Commodore Marambio Base, Antarctica
October 3, 1975Ionosphere missionGermanyMPE400 kmVice Commodore Marambio Base, Antarctica
March 21, 1979, 11:49 PMSpread F Barium release missionGermanyDFVLRFailureChilca, Peru
March 22, 1979, 11:59 PMSpread F Barium release missionGermanyDFVLR268 kmChilca, Peru

Specifications

  • Apogee: 400 km
  • Total mass: 355 kg
  • Diameter: 69 cm
  • Length: 8 m