The Loki-Dart was the sounding rocket version of the Loki surface-to-air spin-stabilized missile briefly used as a barrage weapon by the U.S. Army in 1949. The Loki is small, light, but powerful for its size and very inexpensive. It was therefore adapted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and State University of Iowa for upper-atmospheric sounding and meteorological work.

Loki-Darts were designed to measure temperature and wind velocity up to a height of 65 kilometers (40 miles). The Loki burned out at a 1,524-meter (5,000 feet) altitude, then dropped off while the Dart inert payload section continued on a ballistic trajectory up to peak altitude and conducted its measurements. This object was donated to the Smithsonian in 1975 by the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Display Status

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

Rockets & Missiles

Object Details

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets

Manufacturer

Bendix Aviation Corp.

Dimensions

Overall (Loki): 6 ft. 6 1/2 in. long x 4 in. diameter x 6 in. wing span (199.39 x 10.16 x 15.24cm)
Other (Dart): 1 ft. 8 1/2 in. long x 1 3/4 in. diameter x 3 1/4 in. wing span (52.07 x 4.45 x 8.26cm)

Materials

Loki body, aluminum alloy; nozzle, steel; Dart, steel.

Alternate Name

Loki-Dart Sounding Rocket

Inventory Number

A19750184000

Credit Line

Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Open Access (CCO)
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