FECRES
I June Test
0018933
-
Three rockets were fired from Site Wilma to test the modified ball
joint closure mechanism,
The sustainer motor on the first rocket did
not ignite, causing the nose cone to remain attached to this unit which
fell into the lagoon and sank,
with a coral head,
inside,
system,
The second rocket was damaged by impact
The third nose cone was recovered intact and was dry
This represented a completely successful performance of the
It appeared that the problem of water leakage into the nose cone
had been solved,
19 June Test
Ten rockets were set up for firing at the Walnut cloud.
Of these,
six were successfully launched {see Section 2. 3. 3).
20 June Test
Because of the presence of water in the Walnut nose cones, two rockets
were fired from Wilma to further investigate the cause of leakzige,
The ncse
cone of the first rocket failed to separate from the sustsiner motor end wes
destreyed when it hit the reef,
The second nose cone was recovered in
the lagoon, and 50 ml. of wzter was found to have leaked into it,
It was
conjectured at this time that the low ambient temperature (-100 F®) encountered by the rocket at altitude might be freezing and causing distortion
of the O-ring seals,