A METEOROLOGICAL ROCKET BEACON TRACKING SYSTEM,

摘要

A system designed to track rocket-borne beacons to an altitude of 500,000feet,without the requirement of radar support,is described. The system,designed for use by the Pacific Missile Range to obtain density data during rocket ascent,consists of modifications and additions incorporated into the basic Rawin Set AN/GMD1B in order to provide a relatively low-cost tracking system. Analysis of flight data obtained indicates that the design goals were attained. Rapid variations in pulse-rate telemetry can be reproduced and reduced through a comparison technique. Rocket-altitude data,when compared with data obtained with Radar Set AN/FPS-16,show an agreement to within 0.23percent. The basic system accuracy in determining velocity proved to be as predicted: one percent or better. However,there were instances where deviations of velocity data,when compared with radar-determined velocities,were in excess of one percent. These were traceable to system noise preventing accurate readout. (Author)