Aerojet General X-8

X-8 Aerobee
Aerojet X-8 rocket
Role	Upper Atmospheric Research Vehicle, X-plane
Manufacturer	Aerojet General
First flight	2 December 1949
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 150 lb (68 kg) payload to 200,000 feet (61.0 km). The X-8 was later spun off into the prolific Aerobee rocket.

Operational history

At launch, an 18,000 lb_f (80 kN) thrust Aerojet 2.5KS18,000G solid rocket booster fired for 2.5 seconds. After booster jettison, a 2,600 lb_f (12 kN) thrust XASR-2 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 20.2 ft (6.2 m) in length and measured 5.25 ft (1.6 m) across the fins. A X-8A reached a maximum altitude of 138.4 miles (222.7 km) Another reached a speed of Mach six. The payloads of the X8s varied, averaging about 150 lbs. There were 30 X-8s, 30 X-8As, 1 X-8B, 2 X8-Cs and 3 X-8Ds delivered to the Air Force. The X-8As used a 4,000 lb_f (18 kN) thrust AJ 10-25 engine. The X-8B used a 2,600 lb_f (12 kN) thrust XASR-2 engine. The X-8Cs had 4,000 lb_f (18 kN) thrust AJ 10-25s. The three X-8D with 4,000 lb_f (18 kN) thrust AJ 10-25, apparently were never flown.

Variants

• X-8 - 30
• X-8A - 30
• X-8B - 1
• X-8C - 2
• X-8D - 3

Specifications (general)

Data from The X-Planes: X-1 to X-45

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 ()

Performance

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

Armament

None

See also

Related development

• Aerobee

External links

• Aerojet General RM-84/PWN-2 Aerobee-Hi (and earlier Aerobee variants)