HIGH-ALTITUDE WIND MEASUREMENTS

Abstract

The performance of the Loki wind-sensing rocket system is discussed. Altitudes in excess of those obtainable by standard sounding-balloon techniques were sampled in a series of ten Phase I Loki rockets fired at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Wind measurements obtained by chaff and parachute sensors are presented for high altitudes while the measurements for the lower altitudes were determined by the rawinsonde technique. It is concluded that the Loki wind-measuring system offers a significant advance in the development of an operational meteorological sounding rocket.