Launch Vehicles -Long Tom

General Information

Long Tom was a 'cheap' sounding rocket used to aid in the development of the Woomera Range instrumentation in preparation for the later Black Knight program.

It was later used to study the upper atmosphere.

Sixteen (16) launches (see notes below) were made from 1957 to 1966.

The Long Tom launch vehicle was built from spare Mayfly motors which were clustered in a group of three which constituted the first stage. A further Mayfly was used as the motor in the second stage. Each stage was stabilized by 3 fins.

The overall length was 8.2 m with a second stage diameter of 23 cm.

Notes

• Jason Wentworth had the following comment(s)
  • 16 launches? pg 207 "The Australians" book Sept 1966 shows photo of LT17.

Launch Log LV Purpose PP:Range Development & Atmospheric Research PU:1957 - 1966 PM:150 lb AP:450000 ft Motor Details 1:T+0:3 * MAYFLY:151000 lb.sec:3.6 s 2:T+20:MAYFLY:50300 lb.sec:3.6 s References NMJonathon McDowell,EMjcm@head-cfa.harvard.edu,RPGeneric Launch Log NMPeter Morton,RPFire Across the Desert - Ch 20. High Flyers