Loki-Dart

Loki-Dart was a very popular low-cost meteorological sounding rocket from the 1950s to the 1980s., Two missiles are displayed here: a Loki on the bottom with a Dart mounted on its nose. Together, these were the workhorse sounding rockets of White Sands. For many years, they were fired twice a day carrying weather instruments to measure atmospheric conditions over the missile range., The Loki solid-propellant missile was developed from the Army's abandoned Loki anti-aircraft rocket. Loki had a single rocket booster which propelled it to high speed (3900 mph). After rocket burnout, at about 2,500 feet, the Loki booster separated from the Dart because of aerodynamic drag difference, while the Dart continued its upward climb., The Dart was a Navy research missile used for gathering weather information. It contained a balloon, electronic instruments, battery, tracking radar and antenna., Reaching its peak at 20 miles above sea level, the Dart split open and the balloon was inflated, allowing the instruments case to float downward gently. Continuous telemetering during the downward trip permitted compilation of upper atmospheric conditions., With modifications and improvements, Loki-Dart continued in support of scientific and military weather monitoring programs to the end of the 1980s., Length (including booster): 103 inches , Diameter: 3 inches (7.62 cm) , Weight (including booster): 29 pounds (13 kg) , Altitude: 53 miles , Propellant: Solid , First Firing: 1951