Preparing Rockets

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 12

Preparing Rockets

The University of Canterbury, in conjunction with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, will next month launch a further two high-altitude rockets for scientific studies of the atmosphere. The rockets will carry apparatus for measuring electron concentrations and atmospheric pressures and temperatures to 75km (42 miles), which is about two and a half times the altitude which can be reached by meteorological balloons.

The rockets are being fired as part of a programme of studies under the direction of Dr. J. B. Gregory of the university’s physics department. The staff of the Physics Department have nearly completed work on the payloads. The photograph above shows Mr A. W. Black (left) making an adjustment to the temperature measuring equipment and Mr B. A. Perry at work on the electron concentration payload; Two scientists, Mr G. J. Fraser and Mr A. H. Manson, are also working on the project. The electron concentration payload is the more complex of the two and incorporates a number of improvements on the model fired in May, 1963. The intricate miniature transmitter is even lighter and smaller and the 200 ft antenna has been looped to save space.

The temperature measuring payload incorporates a very small thermometer- which is suspended in open space after the nose cone is released. It also has a very high frequency transmitter with a needle-like antenna in the cone.

The launchings are scheduled to take place after August 31 as soon as weather and other conditions are suitable. The public will be permitted to watch; but only from a safe distance, which will be about one mile from the actual launching site. The Air Force will undertake the clearing of the rocket range, which is off-shore from Birdling’s Flat. They will also prepare and launch the vehicles. The Air Force is under the command of Flight Lieutenant G. C. Brown, of Wigram. University staff will assist with the launching by undertaking the calculations of trajectory, including the effect of winds. Funds for the project have been provided by the United States Government. The first of three similar rockets was fired on May 23, 1963. 18 Months Ago The university’s programme for the study of the atmosphere below 100 km has been in operation for about 18 months at the Birdling’s Flat site and longer at another field site.

Dr. Gregory said a major disturbance occurred during the 1963 winter’ at altitudes between 60 km and 90. km. “The form of this disturbance, which is a characteristic of

winter conditions in temperate latitudes, has yet to be established,” he said. The university’s measurements of electron concentration were compared with temperature variations obtained by the meteorological office at Christchurch Airport. The comparison showed Clearly that the disturbance which was detected as a change in electron densities and which has some effect upon radio communication must have involved the circulation of the atmosphere between 60 km and 90 km. “This latter region is extremely inaccessible, being too low for study by satellites and too high for study by balloons,” Dr. Gregory said. The university’s radio-wave techniques have been expanded and improved as a result of its 1963 findings, which were presented by Dr. Gregory at an international conference in Berkeley, America, last August. Dr. Gregory considers that the use of radio waves, which his group is how making, is an effective complement to the use of rockets which are the

only other way of investigating the same region. Dr. Gregory said the radio waves also provide a satisfactory method of making routine measurements of the winds above 70 km. Working at Birdling’s Flat and using some of the same apparatus, Mr G. J. Fraser, of the physics department, is making wind measurements of this sort.

“The techniques employed are now of a high standard and are producing measurements which have not been obtained elsewhere,” said Dr. Gregory.

A feature of the modern method employed is the recording of data at the experimental site in a form suitable for electronic digital computer processing. “Sustained calculations are necessary in order to deduce the direction and magnitude of upper atmosphere Winds from fluctuations in radio signals at the earth’s surface,” he said.

The present experiment would be impossible without the use of the computer in the Mobil laboratory at Ham.