What is the smallest orbital rocket?

[larrison]

What is the smallest orbital rocket and where can I get specs on it?

 

[ve7rkt]

Smallest how?<br /><br />The orbital launcher with the smallest possible payload I can think of is the Vanguard, which could put a max of 9kg into LEO. You may remember Vanguard from such projects as the first American satellite, a grapefruit-sized metal sphere flown in 1958. Specs should not be hard to find.<br /><br />If there was an even smaller launcher meant to put even less into orbit that actually flew? If there is, you'd probably find it in the Encyclopedia Astronautica's Orbital LV page.

 

[grooble]

Falcon 1 will be i'd imagine.

 

[ve7rkt]

You could take two Vanguard upper stages, bundle them together, and lift them as <i>payload</i> on Falcon 1. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[grooble]

He didn't specify whether he meant historically or current. So we are both right <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[mikejz]

The smallest, and I don't remember the name or specs off hand---was a Navy rocket, solid fueled, air launched, that was designed to put a 1kg payload to orbit.<br /><br />It was flown several times, but none succeded, though one might of gotten to orbit.

 

[ve7rkt]

Is this what you're thinking of?

 

[mlorrey]

http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/glo1b.htm<br /><br />However, this:<br />http://ast.faa.gov/files/pdf/sr_98_1q.pdf<br />Says the Eclipse Express, with a 50 lb payload, is the smallest launcher by payload, though the Eclipse seems to be a rather vaporware launcher at this point.<br /><br />James Grote, President, Rocket Propulsion<br />Engineering Company, PC, 6 May 2003. This<br />California company has also done a study to<br />determine the smallest practical orbital vehicle. The<br />resulting design would put up about 30 kg for a price<br />the company believes could be lowered to $300,000<br />for the vehicle alone.

 

[ve7rkt]

After some searching (how did I get interested enough to research this, anyhow?) it looks like the smallest launcher in current use is the Chinese KT-1 (Kaituozhe-1 / Explorer-1), with a payload of 100kg to a 500km polar orbit. However, both its flights so far have failed.

 

[larrison]

I guess i was thinking of something around a one ton payload( no more than 2,000 lbs but more than 1,000)

 

[ve7rkt]

Ah, well, that's different.<br /><br />I suggest paging through the Launcher list at Gunther's Space Page, or the Orbital LVs list on Encyclopedia Astronautica to find what you're looking for.

 

[mlorrey]

The poster might check out the Russian Strela rocket, which puts up a maximum of 2000kg payload (4400 lb)<br /><br /> http://www.satellite.srd.mtuci.ru/Rocets/strela/Strela%20UM.pdf

 

[Swampcat]

<font color="yellow">"...but are any of the multi-stage solid-propellant rockets launched by hobbyists (some of which look quite large in photos) capable of achieving orbit?"</font><br /><br />Not yet. I believe the altitude record for an amateur rocket was set in 2004 by Ky Michaelson. His rocket reached an altitude of 72 miles and 3420mph...nowhere near orbital velocity. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[darkenfast]

How about the Scout rocket that NASA used to launch from Wallops Island, Virginia (among other places)? That was certainly in the small category. For air-launched, I would say Pegasus.

 

[ace5]

The early Lambda rockets for the japanese space program in the early 70 were very small launchers, too.

 

[hiro2002]

L-4S <br /><br />http://spaceinfo.jaxa.jp/db/kaihatu/rocket/rocket_e/l_4s_e.html<br /><br />4 stage, solid rocket<br />length 16.5m<br />diameter 0.735m<br />weight 9.4 ton<br /><br />The rocket launch Japanese first satellite into orbit<br /><br />"This L rocket series weighs only 9.4 tons and is the most light launch vehicle in the world. "<br /><br />Is it true?<br />

 

[ace5]

I dont know if Lambda 4S is the smallest, but surely is one of the lightest.<br /><br />very nicely designed, though..<br />Look at the smooth, streamlined and elegant lines.<br />Very, very nice.

 

[ve7rkt]

Lambda 4S masses 9.4 tons and lifts 26kg of payload to LEO in four stages. Vanguard was a bigger rocket at 10 tons but had a smaller payload at 9kg in three stages.

 

[mlorrey]

Good point, so the question is: lightest GLOW or smallest payload?

 

[mikeemmert]

Ah, yes, I remember Dr. Gerald Bull. He was all in the newspapers. He was murdered as an act of war during the first Gulf War for working for Saddam Hussein. There were numerous suspects, the CIA, Mossad, French Intelligence, even Saddam Hussein. Nobody knows...was his killer ever apprehended?<br /><br />I seriously doubt it.

 

[mlorrey]

Hussein wouldn't have done him, he still needed him to finish work on the babylon gun. Mossad either did him, or had the CIA do him for them, because of his work improving Saddam's Scuds so they could reach Israel.<br /><br />And he was killed about a month before the first Gulf War, in the summer of 1990.

 

[hiro2002]

It was small and nice design... <br />And It used unique launch system.<br />I agree with you and be proud of it.<br /><br />But to put it still another way, Japan couldn't build big rocket in 1966.<br />Payload is very small (26 kg).<br />Stage 1, 2, 3 of the rocket didn't have flight control system.<br />Meanwhile, America already did manned space flight in 1962...<br />