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Aerojet General X-8

From PlaneSpottingWorld, for aviation fans everywhere

X-8 Aerobee
Image:AerojetX8.JPG
Aerojet X-8 rocket
Type	Upper Atmospheric Research Vehicle, X-Plane
Manufacturer	Aerojet General
Maiden flight	2 December 1949^[1]
Primary users	NACA/NASA United States Air Force United States Navy
Number built	108
Variants	Aerobee

The Aerojet General X-8 was an unguided, spin-stabilized sounding rocket designed to launch a Template:Convert payload to Template:Convert. The X-8 was later spun-off into the prolific Aerobee rocket.

1 Operational history
2 Variants
3 Specifications (general)
4 See also
- 4.1 Related development
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Operational history

At launch, an Template:Convert thrust Aerojet solid rocket booster fired for 2.5 seconds. After booster jettison, a Template:Convert thrust RTV-N10 liquid fuel rocket burned for up to 40 seconds (depending on desired apogee). The spent rocket then fell back in a ballistic arc, the payload returning to Earth via parachute. The baseline X-8 measured Template:Convert in length and measured Template:Convert across the fins. In testing, a maximum altitude of Template:Convert and a speed of Mach six was achieved.

[edit] Variants

X-8 - 68
X-8A - 34
X-8B - 1
X-8C - 2
X-8D - 3

[edit] Specifications (general)

Data from The X-Planes: X-1 to X-45^[1]

[edit] General characteristics

Crew: unmanned
Length: 20ft 1.5in ()
Wingspan: 5ft 3in ()
Height: 15in ()
Wing area: 36ft² ()
Empty weight: 135lb ()
Loaded weight: 1,097lb ()
Useful load: 150-300lb ()

[edit] Performance

Maximum speed: 3490 knots (4,020mph)
Range: 18+nm (20+mi)
Service ceiling: 800,000ft ()

[edit] Armament

None

[edit] See also

[edit] Related development

Aerobee

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Records	Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft

[edit] References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Miller, Jay (2001). "Aerojet General X-8A, X-8B, X-8C, and X-8D Aerobee", The X-Planes: X-1 to X-45. Hinckley, UK: Midland. ISBN 1857801091.