Sounding rocket developments in Spain

Abstract

This paper contemplates the efforts and developments in the field of sounding rockets carried out in Spain from the decade of the 1960s to the early 1990s when the use of such vehicles was abandoned worldwide. The initial sounding rocket planning within the National Space Research Programs around 1964 (when Spain joined ESRO) is presented. The status of the rocket technology in Spain in 1964 is analysed, reviewing the main technology gaps and the way they were filled to make the planned developments possible. Three Spanish sounding rockets are presented: the INTA-255 (150 km apogee with formative objectives, first launched in 1969), the INTA-300 (300 km apogee with high characteristics and commercial capabilities, first launched in 1974) and the INTA-100 (115 km apogee being finally a totally national product, first launched in 1980). Some guided rocket vehicle projects which were based, on some way, on the previous sounding rockets activities are also mentioned in this paper.