Castor A

The Castor A was an Argentine sounding rocket designed in 1969 by the Instituto de Investigaciones Aeronáuticas y Espaciales (IIAE).^[1][2]

Castor

Function	Sounding rocket
Manufacturer	Instituto de Investigaciones Aeronáuticas y Espaciales (IIAE)
Country of origin	Argentina
Size
Height	8 m (26 ft)
Diameter	0.69 m (2 ft 3 in)
Stages	2
Launch history
Launch sites	CELPA Chamical, Vice Commodore Marambio Base, Chilca
Total launches	7
Success(es)	6
Failure(s)	1
First flight	December 22, 1969
Last flight	March 22, 1979
stage – First Stage
Powered by	4 Canopus II
stage – Second Stage
Powered by	1 Canopus II

The rocket featured a two-stage configuration, utilizing five Canopus II rockets (four in the first stage and one in the second).^[1][2] It was capable of placing a 75 kg (165 lb) payload at a 400 km altitude.^[1]

Throughout its operational lifespan, the Castor A was launched seven times.^[1][3] Experiencing one failed launch, it had a success rate of approximately 83.3%.^[1][3]

Launches

Castor was launched seven times:^[1][3]

Date	Mission Type	Nation	Agency	Apogee	Launch Site
December 22, 1969	Test mission	Argentina	IIAE	52 km	CELPA Chamical[1][3]
December 19, 1970	Test mission	Argentina	IIAE	45 km	CELPA Chamical[1][3]
November 22, 1973	Ion beam Ionosphere mission	Germany	MPE	406 km	CELPA Chamical[1][3]
September 30, 1975	Ionosphere mission	Germany	MPE	400 km	Vice Commodore Marambio Base, Antarctica[1][3]
October 3, 1975	Ionosphere mission	Germany	MPE	400 km	Vice Commodore Marambio Base, Antarctica[1][3]
March 21, 1979, 11:49 PM	Spread F Barium release mission	Germany	DFVLR	Failure	Chilca, Peru[1][3]
March 22, 1979, 11:59 PM	Spread F Barium release mission	Germany	DFVLR	268 km	Chilca, Peru[1][3]

Specifications

• Apogee: 400 km^[1][2]
• Total mass: 355 kg^[1][2]
• Diameter: 69 cm^[1][2]
• Length: 8 m^[1][2]

Images

• 
  First Castor (CRX-01) at CELPA Chamical
• 
  Castor launch preparations