A rockoon (derived from the terms rocket and balloon) was an extension to the rocket, which allowed the rocket to achieve further distance. The rockoon was a solid fuel rocket that, rather than being immediately lit while on the ground, was first carried into the upper atmosphere by a gas-filled balloon, and then separated from the balloon when it had reached its maximum height and automatically ignited. This would allow the rocket to achieve a higher altitude, since the rocket did not have to move through thick air layers.

The original concept of "Rockoons" was developed by Cmdr. Lee Lewis, Cmdr. G. Halvorson, S. F. Singer, and James A. Van Allen during Aerobee firing cruise of U.S.S. Norton Sound on March 1, 1949.

A disadvantage of a rockoon is that balloons cannot be steered and consequently neither the direction the rocket moves in nor the region where it will fall down is easily adjustable. Therefore, a large area for the fall of the rocket is required for safety reasons.

External links

• http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/rockoon.htm

Rockoon