Terrier Malemute


The Terrier Malemute is a two-stage American sounding rocket typically used for smaller payloads. Both the Terrier first stage and the Malemute second stage use solid fuel. The Terrier burns for approximately 5.2 seconds, and the Malemute burns for approximately 21.5 seconds. The first stage booster consists of a surplus Navy Terrier MK 12 Mod 1 rocket motor with four 340-square-inch fin panels arranged in a cruciform configuration. The Terrier rocket booster has a diameter of 18 inches. The second stage solid rocket is a Thiokol Malemute TU-758 rocket motor, specially designed for high altitude research rocket applications. Apogee is approximately 400 km for a 500 lb payload or 700 km for a 91 lb payload. For a payload weight of 200 lb, the acceleration during the boost phase is 26 g.
A version with an Improved Malemute upper stage, the Terrier Improved Malemute, has made two successful test flights and two failed attempts. Two of these rockets were successfully used in 2012 in the Anomalous Transport Rocket Experiment upper atmospheric study.
On 26 November 2019 07:43 UTC a Terrier-Improved Malemute suborbital sounding rocket was launched from Ny-Aalesund, Norway. The rocket conducted the ICI-5 mission for NASA and Norwegian research institutes. The purpose of the mission was ionosphere research. The suborbital flight was a partial failure as the rocket experienced a roll rate anomaly, precluding the instruments from functioning as intended. Apogee: 253 kilometres.