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VIKING:
IMPROVING ON THE V-2
In
1946 the U.S. Navy began work on a sounding rocket to meet its research
needs and to gain experience in designing and building large missiles.
From 1949 through 1957, 14 Vikings were built and flown to test
different features and carry larger instrument payloads.
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| Viking's
design introduced important innovations in control, structures, and
propulsion. No two Vikings were identical.
The
Viking rocket was used mainly to study the region of the upper atmosphere
that affects long-range radio communication. However, the Naval
Research Laboratory also conducted a study and test launch to investigate
Viking's potential as a tactical ballistic missile.
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VIKING
 The
Viking displayed here is a full-size model made with portions of
a real airframe; it is typical of Viking #8 and later versions.
It was built by Viking's prime manufacturer, the Glen L. Martin
Company of Baltimore. The visible internal components consist of
both real objects and mock-ups. The model was donated to the Smithsonian
in 1975, after the company installed an original XLR-10 Viking engine
from the Museum's collection.
Gift of
the Glen L. Martin Company
Diagrams courtesy of Rockets, Missiles, and Space Travel (1957)
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| Length: |
13.7 m (45 ft) |
| Weight: |
6,700 kg (14,800 lb) |
| Thrust: |
91,200 newtons (20,500
lb) |
| Propellants: |
Alcohol and liquid oxygen |
| Manufacturer: |
Glen L. Martin Co. (airframe),
Reaction Motors, Inc. (engine) |
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