Improved Orion Launch Vehicle

Improved Orion Launch Vehicle
Photo credit: Scott Neville
 
Blue Rocket Bullet
 Maiden Flight (as Orion) ~ May 1974
Blue Rocket Bullet
 Especially Popular for: Student Outreach, Geospace Sciences, Special Projects, Test & Support, Plasma Physics
Blue Rocket Bullet
 Total Launches 14 May 1959 - 8 June 2006: 58
 

Vehicle Performance

The Improved Orion is 14 inches in diameter and 110 inches long. The Improved Orion fins are nominally canted to provide a four revolutions per second spin rate at burnout. The rocket carries an 85 pound payload to 88 kilometers and a 150 pound payload to 71 kilometers when launched from sea level at an 85° launch angle.
 
Payloads
The standard payload for the Improved Orion has a principle diameter of 14 inches and utilizes many nose cone shapes. The normal payload length varies from 72 to 100 inches although this is not the maximum envelope. Payload diameters as small as 4.5 inches are flown on the Orion and performance characteristics are most favorable for 85 to 150 pound payloads.