Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

This is the Nike-Ajax booster for the Nike-Cajun, a two-stage, solid-fuel sounding or upper-atmospheric research rocket. It could carry 10-100 pounds of scientific instruments up to 100 miles altitute for experiments like analyzing the composition of the upper atmosphere or obtaining data on radiation, weather, and solar phenomena.

The Nike-Cajun used a standard Nike-Ajax missile booster as the first stage and a Cajun as the second stage. It was one of the most widely used sounding rockets. Operational in 1956, they saw service during the International Geophysicial Year of 1957-1958. This object was donated to the Smithsonian in 1958 by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).

 Display Status

This object is on display in Rockets & Missiles at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

Rockets & Missiles
Object Details
Date ca. 1957 Country of Origin United States of America Type ARMAMENT-Missiles Dimensions Overall: 13 ft. 3 1/4 in. long x 1 ft. 4 1/2 in. diameter (404.5 x 41.91cm)
 Materials Steel body; magnesium nose with minor magnesium pitting; removable shroud over booster nozzle, aluminum; nozzle, booster, steel; fins and fins shrouding, magnesium; liner inside booster, asbestos, but now encapsulated.
 Alternate Name Nike-Cajun Sounding Rocket Inventory Number A19580045000 Credit Line Transferred from National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.