Terasca
title: "Terasca" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["sounding-rockets-of-the-united-states", "equipment-of-the-united-states-navy"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terasca" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox rocket"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image | Terasca.jpg |
| caption | TERASCA rocket being readied |
| function | Sounding rocket |
| manufacturer | Naval Ordnance Test Station |
| country-origin | United States |
| height | 36 ft |
| diameter | 18 in |
| mass | 3000 lb |
| stages | Three |
| location | 98 mi |
| kilos | 11.3 kg |
| status | Retired |
| sites | Vandenberg AFB |
| launches | 3 |
| success | 1 |
| fail | 2 |
| first | May 1, 1959 |
| last | August 12, 1959 |
| stagedata | |
| type | stage |
| stageno | First |
| name | Terrier |
| diameter | 18 in |
| engines | 1 |
| thrust | 258 kN |
| fuel | Solid |
| type | stage |
| stageno | Second |
| name | ASROC |
| diameter | 16.6 in |
| engines | 1 |
| thrust | 49 kN |
| fuel | Solid |
| type | stage |
| stageno | Third |
| name | Cajun |
| diameter | 8 in |
| engines | 1 |
| thrust | 36 kN |
| fuel | Solid |
| :: |
|image = Terasca.jpg
|caption = TERASCA rocket being readied
|function = Sounding rocket
|manufacturer = Naval Ordnance Test Station
|country-origin = United States
|height = 36 ft
|diameter = 18 in
|mass = 3000 lb
|stages = Three
|capacities =
|location = 98 mi
|kilos = 11.3 kg
|status = Retired
|sites = Vandenberg AFB
|launches = 3
|success = 1
|fail = 2
|first = May 1, 1959
|last = August 12, 1959
|stagedata =
|type = stage
|stageno = First
|name = Terrier
|diameter = 18 in
|engines = 1
|thrust = 258 kN
|burntime =
|fuel = Solid
|type = stage
|stageno = Second
|name = ASROC
|diameter = 16.6 in
|engines = 1
|thrust = 49 kN
|burntime =
|fuel = Solid
|type = stage
|stageno = Third
|name = Cajun
|diameter = 8 in
|engines = 1
|thrust = 36 kN
|burntime =
|fuel = Solid
Terasca, or Terrier-ASROC-Cajun, was an American three-stage sounding rocket developed and launched by the United States Navy. Derived from a combination of the Terrier, ASROC and Cajun rockets, three launches were attempted during 1959, but only one was successful.
Design and development
The Terrier-ASROC-Cajun ("Terasca") rocket was developed during early 1959 by the Naval Ordnance Test Station, located at China Lake, California, to fill a U.S. Navy requirement for a three-stage sounding rocket, intended to launch experimental payloads for conducting high-altitude research. The rocket utilised a combination of existing missiles in its construction; the first stage was a Terrier surface-to-air missile; an ASROC anti-submarine rocket made up the second stage, while a Cajun sounding rocket was utilised as a third stage.
The Terrier first stage produced 258 kN thrust, while the ASROC second stage provided 49 kN, and the third-stage Cajun motor had a thrust rated at 36 kN. The theoretical apogee for Terasca was 98 mi; it could carry a scientific payload of up to 25 lb.
Operational history
Three launch attempts of the Terasca missile were made from the launch facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base during 1959, utilising the Western Launch and Test Range. The first launch attempt took place on May 1; this launch was a failure. A second launch attempt on June 26, however, was successful, with the rocket reaching an apogee of 60 mi. A third launch, attempted on August 12, however, was also a failure; following the third launch, the Terasca program came to a close.
Launch history
::data[format=table]
| Date/Time (GMT) | Rocket | Launch site | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959-05-01 | Terasca | Vandenberg Air Force Base | Failure | |
| 1959-06-26 | Terasca | Vandenberg AFB | Success | |
| 1959-08-12 | Terasca | Vandenberg AFB | Failure | |
| :: |
References
;Notes ;Bibliography
References
- FAA 2005, p.37.
- ''The Rocketeer'', Nov. 1993
- Parsch 2024
- Chant 1990, p.236.
- Corliss 1971, p.83.
- "Terrier ASROC Cajun".
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