Optical Tracking For Japanese Sounding Rockets

Tsuneyoshi Uyemura; Shigeo Ohzono; Yoshitaka Yamamoto; Takao Tsuno

doi:10.1117/12.955269

14 September 1977 Optical Tracking For Japanese Sounding Rockets

Tsuneyoshi Uyemura, Shigeo Ohzono, Yoshitaka Yamamoto, Takao Tsuno

Proceedings Volume 0097, 12th Intl Congress on High Speed Photography; (1977) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.955269
Event: 12th International Congress on High Speed Photography, 1976, Toronto, Canada

Abstract

This paper deals mainly with the results of observations by optical tracking which were done for the Japanese sounding rockets Mu-4S type series. We also introduce our optical tracking stations and apparatus used for the observations. 16mm movie films on the results of the earlier type series rockets Pencil, Kappa and Lambda which are still used were presented at the 5th and 9th Congresses on High-Speed Photography by Prof. Tsuneyoshi Uyemura. After that we have succeeded to put artificial satellites into their orbits around the earth using Lambda and Mu-series rockets. Mu-4 type rockets have diameters of 1.4m and lengths of 24m and are four staged rockets all stages of which have solid fuel motors, and the fourth stages carry the satellites. Six stations which are used for optical tracking for the Mu rockets are located around the Mu launcher, and in each station tracking apparatus such as various high-speed cameras are installed. We observed the rocket at the moment when it was just launched off and the behavior of the rocket after launching and during its journey, and also determined the trajectory of the rocket. The observation by the optical tracking system is performed in a completely separated manner from the rocket itself, and so we can continue observation even after the rocket happens to burst in an accident. Beyond this advantage the optical tracking method is at present the only method by which we can observe precisely the flying characteristics of the rocket in the early stage of its trajectory. On the other hand we cannot use the information other than the light emitted from the nozzle flame and the reflected light of the sun, and this means the trackability is deeply dependent upon the climate condition when launched.

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Tsuneyoshi Uyemura, Shigeo Ohzono, Yoshitaka Yamamoto, and Takao Tsuno "Optical Tracking For Japanese Sounding Rockets", Proc. SPIE 0097, 12th Intl Congress on High Speed Photography, (14 September 1977); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.955269

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KEYWORDS

Rockets

Optical tracking

Automatic tracking

Cameras

Chromium

High speed photography

High speed cameras

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