Wind and targeting evaluation, post flight performance of the ARIES sounding rocket for IMS-Porcupine-2

Methods and procedures applied in IMS-Aries preflight trajectory evaluation and targeting are summarized. Aries is the Minuteman 1 second stage. Esrange wind information, and preliminary postflight trajectory data are presented. The rocket was launched March 20, 1977, at 19:22:00 U.T. from Esrange, Kiruna, Sweden, carrying the Porcupine-2 payload. Flight performance was nominal, characterized by 460 km apogee altitude, 11.5 min flight time, and 59 km impact range.