Scout X-2M

Scout X-2M was an American expendable launch system which was flown three times between May 1962 and April 1963. It was a four-stage rocket, based on the earlier Scout X-2, but with an MG-18 upper stage instead of the Altair used on the X-2. It was a member of the Scout family of rockets.

Scout X-2M

Function	Expendable launch system
Manufacturer	Vought
Country of origin	United States
Size
Height	22 metres (72 ft)
Diameter	1.02 metres (3 ft 4 in)
Mass	17,000 kilograms (37,000 lb)
Stages	Four
Associated rockets
Family	Scout
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	Point Arguello LC-D
Total launches	3
Successes	1
Failures	2
First flight	1962-05-24
Last flight	1963-04-26
First stage – Algol 1D
Engines	1 solid
Thrust	440 kilonewtons (99,000 lbf)
Burn time	44 seconds
Fuel	Solid
Second stage – Castor 1A
Engines	1 solid
Thrust	286 kilonewtons (64,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	247 sec
Burn time	27 seconds
Fuel	Solid
Third stage – Antares 2A
Engines	1 X-254
Thrust	93 kilonewtons (21,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	293 sec
Burn time	36 seconds
Fuel	Solid
Fourth stage – MG-18
Engines	1 Solid
Fuel	Solid

The Scout X-2 was an all-solid rocket, with an Algol 1D first stage, a Castor 1A second stage, an Antares 2A third stage, and an MG-18 fourth stage. It was launched from Launch Complex D at Point Arguello, and was used for the launch of P-35 weather satellites.

The first Scout X-2M was launched 24 May 1962, carrying P35-1, but failed to reach orbit. The second flight, launched at 11:44 GMT on 23 August, was the only successful launch to be made by an X-2M, placing P35-2 into low Earth orbit. The final launch, with P35-4 occurred on 26 April 1963, and like the first flight, it failed to reach orbit.

References

• Wade, Mark. "Scout". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
• Krebs, Gunter. "Scout". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
• McDowell, Jonathan. "Scout". Orbital & Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
• Heyman, Jos; Parsch, Andreas (2007-07-09). "LTV SLV-1 Scout". Appendix 3: Space Vehicles. Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. Retrieved 2009-07-03.