National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Past Exhibition
This is the WAC-Corporal liquid-fuel sounding rocket, the U.S.'s first successful sounding rocket. Developed from 1944 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, it could lift 25 pounds of instruments to 20 miles. The motor used nitric acid and aniline and produced 1,500 pounds of thrust. The first rocket was launched in 1945.
However, captured German V-2 rockets soon became available that could carry heavier payloads to higher altitudes. The WAC was thus little used. One was placed on top of a V-2, however, as part of the U.S.'s first experimental two-stage liquid propellant rocket series called Project Bumper. One Bumper in 1949 went up to a record 244 miles. This rocket was donated to the Smithsonian by Caltech in 1959.
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
Key Accomplishment(s)
First Successful U.S. Sounding Rocket
Brief Description
First launched in 1945, the WAC-Corporal liquid-fuel sounding rocket could lift 11 kg (25 lbs) of instruments to 32 km (20 mi). The motor used nitric acid and aniline and produced 680 kg (1,500 lbs) of thrust.
Date
ca. 1945-1950
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets
Manufacturer
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Dimensions
3-D (L x W x H) (Artifact only): 505.5 × 103.5 × 30.5cm (16 ft. 7 in. × 3 ft. 4 3/4 in. × 1 ft.)
8" length for the acrylic pieces that hang from the bottom of the fins
Materials
Mainly sheet steel; plastic or plexiglass cones on tips of the two white fins
Alternate Name
WAC Corporal Sounding Rocket
Inventory Number
A19590009000
Credit Line
Gift of the California Institute of Technology
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Open Access (CCO)
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.
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