US Army Jupiter-C/Juno I - US Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL
N 34° 42.632 W 086° 39.262
16S E 531649 N 3840997
A US Army Jupiter-C/Juno I on static display outside of the Main Exhibit Building at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville AL
Waymark Code: WMWXMK
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 10/26/2017
Views: 2
There are dozens of rockets, missiles, missile launchers, and other aircraft on static display outside of the Main Exhibit Building at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL.
The waymarked US Army Jupiter-C/Juno I is located near the entrance to the outdoor rocket park.
An interpretive sign reads as follows:
"US ARMY JUPITER-C/JUNO I
Designed as a satellite launcher, this vehicle was a modified Redstone rocket to added upper stages. The Juno I, a variant of the Jupiter-C, it looked identical to the Jupiter-C, added one additional single motor upper stage. How January 31, 1958, a Juno I launched the first US satellite, Explorer I, into an elliptical earth orbit. Data from the satellite indicated that Earth is surrounded by zones of radiation and charged particles: the Van Allen Belts. Note the cylindrical shape stage (tub) at the top.
Above it is a model of the rod shaped Explorer I satellite. Prior to launch, the cylinder would spin at 750 rpm in order to stabilize the satellite’s flight path. The Juno I also launched Explorer III in March and Explorer IV in July, 1958. Both satellites greatly improved the understanding of the space environment.
Length: 71.3 ft
Finspan: 13ft
Diameter: 5.9ft
Weight: 64000lbs
Thrust: 83000 lbs
Propellant:
(stage 1) Liquid Oxygen and hydyne
(upper stages) Rubber-based solid propellant
Contractors:
Chrysler Corporation (first stage fuselage)
Rocketdyne Div., North American Aviation (first stage propulsion)
Thiokol for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (upper stage propulsion)"
Type of Aircraft: (make/model): US Army Jupiter-C/Juno I Rocket
Construction:: original aircraft
Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): US Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville AL
inside / outside: outside
Access restrictions:
Open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Tail Number: (S/N): Not listed
Other Information:: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)
Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.