Meteorological rocket “MERA”

Аuthors

Komissarenko A. I.^*, Kuznetsov V. M.^*, Simakov S. Y.^*, Muraschev A. A.^*

Instrument Design Bureau named after academician A.G. Shipunov, 59, Shcheglovskaya Zaseka str., Tula, 300001, Russia

*e-mail: kbkedr@tula.net

Abstract

Rockets MMP-06 and MMP-06M are nowadays are the most popular rockets in Russia, while the “Dart” system is the most popular rocket in the USA.

The MMP-06M reentry vehicle maximum flight altitude is 60-80 kilometers.

Since 1988 the rocket is employed for the wind velocity and temperature measurement in upper atmosphere.

The rocket is equipped with the engine with a steel body as a thruster, which results in low thrusted efficiency for modern technology state-of-the-art (the empty engine with stabilizers to fuel weight ratio equals 0.56).

The altitude of probing is relatively low, and equals 80 km, and probing at the flight upward trajectory is impossible.

To avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks, the SC Instrumentation Design Bureau under contract with the Ministry of Environmental Monitoring and Research Developed “Mera” meteorological rocket with probing altitude greater than 100 km.

To serve as a thruster the surface-to-air bi-caliber missile engine, using solid propellant (with density impulse of 240 kgFs/kg) was developed and finished-off, with fiberglass body and the empty engine with stabilizers to fuel weight ratio of 0.3. It allows significantly reduce initial weight of the rocket and its size.

The meteorological rocket “Mera” was designed based on the above said surface-to-air bi-caliber missile engine, and MMP-06M “Dart” as reentry vehicle cruise component.

To provide requirements fulfillment (achieving altitudes over 100 km) meteorological rocket “Mera” has two-stage structure with passive cruise component and equipped with a booster.

Measuring and servicing equipment is allocated in the cruise component in the form of a container. The cruise component is equipped with parachute in a separate container.

On the assumption of stiffness conditions and required temperature the body of the cruise component is protected by combined coating.

To ensure radio signal of the equipment propagation the cruise component is equipped with radio-transparent insertion.

To ensure aerodynamic stability the cruise component is equipped with asymmetrical consoles.

The paper presents aerodynamic, weight, inertial and ballistic characteristics, impact zones and separated engine trajectories, as well as cruise component impact zones.

Keywords:

meteorological rocket, atmospheric probing, rocketry

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