6 Images

This is the Dart portion of the solid-fuel Cajun-Dart sounding rocket. The Dart held the miniaturized payload for gathering weather data from the upper atmosphere. The small, low-cost, low-altitude Cajun-Dart was developed by the Space Data Corporation under contract to NASA. The first flight tests were made at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in 1964.

The rocket was meant for meteorological studies and designed to carry payloads to 60-80 km (50-60 miles) but it was used as a chaff rocket at Cape Kennedy. Chaff is shredded tin foil. The foil created artificial clouds that could be tracked by radar to study wind speed and direction at different altitudes.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

CRAFT-Missile & Rocket Parts

Manufacturer

Space Data Corporation

Dimensions

Overall: 130.2 × 12.1 × 10.2cm, 9 1/2lb. (51 1/4 × 4 3/4 × 4 in., 4.3kg)
Storage: 141 × 22.2 × 15.2cm (55 1/2 in. × 8 3/4 in. × 6 in.)

Materials

Steel
Chrome Plating
Copper Alloy
Paint

Inventory Number

A19750178000

Credit Line

Transferred from NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply
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