Author
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Topic: What's The Difference?
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Duke Of URL Member Posts: 1316 From: Syracuse, NY Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 05-07-2005 06:53 PM
I read the original Mercury plan was for all 7 astronauts to fly suborbital missions with Redstone and Jupiter missiles.So what's the difference between a Redstone and a Jupiter? And exactly how close was a Redstone to a V-2? |
sts205cdr Member Posts: 649 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 05-07-2005 07:15 PM
I think you mean Redstone and *Atlas* boosters. The idea was scrapped because it didn't make any sense to continue with the sub-orbital Redstone flight tests once the Atlas was man-rated and ready for a Mercury spacecraft.--John |
micropooz Member Posts: 1532 From: Washington, DC, USA Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 05-07-2005 08:41 PM
Ok, stay with me here because this is going to sound like it is going in circles. After developing the Redstone (a missile that flew a few hundred miles), the Army developed an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) called the Jupiter that would fly ~1500 miles. In order to test the Jupiter systems during development, they modified Redstones with those Jupiter systems and called them Jupiter A and Jupiter C. They actually used a Jupiter C to orbit Explorer 1. So there may have been some thought given to using a Jupiter A or Jupiter C derivative of the Redstone for Mercury at one time. They ended up using an older model of the Redstone for Mercury. I don't think there was any intention to use the Jupiter IRBM for Mercury. Anyone else have any other info? |
taneal1 Member Posts: 237 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 05-08-2005 12:40 AM
quote: Originally posted by sts205cdr: I think you mean Redstone and *Atlas* boosters. --John
Actually, "Duke" is correct. There was a plan to follow the Redstone sub-orbital flights with *Jupiter* sub-orbital flights. The Jupiter flights were later deemed as unnecessary for multiple reasons, especially due to NASA's need to match the Russians with an orbital mission ASAP. Tom [This message has been edited by taneal1 (edited May 08, 2005).] |
Duke Of URL Member Posts: 1316 From: Syracuse, NY Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 05-08-2005 07:47 AM
quote: Originally posted by taneal1: [B] Actually, "Duke" is correct. /B]
See? For a coconut I'm a sharp cookie! |
DavidH Member Posts: 1217 From: Huntsville, AL, USA Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 05-09-2005 09:36 AM
quote: Originally posted by micropooz: They actually used a Jupiter C to orbit Explorer 1.
And, of course, further complicating things, the rocket used the Explorer I launch is perhaps more correctly a Juno I. Here's a bit of info on the Redstone/Jupiter/Juno history. http://spaceline.org/rocketsum/jupiter-c.html ------------------ http://allthese worlds.hatbag.net/space.php "America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow." - Commander Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 Mission, 11 December 1972
[This message has been edited by DavidH (edited May 09, 2005).] |
sts205cdr Member Posts: 649 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 05-09-2005 10:31 AM
Boy, I learn something every day on these boards! Thanks!--John |
lb206 Member Posts: 48 From: Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 07-06-2005 08:27 PM
Actually the Jupiter refered to here is the Jupiter IRBM developed by the army later transfered to the airforce. It was considered for suborbital mercury flights but was not ever used for that purpose. A Jupiter did however carry the primates able and Baker into space. here is a link to its information. http://astronautix.com/lvs/jupiter.htm [This message has been edited by lb206 (edited July 06, 2005).] |