0018933

l June

Test

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, °

aix 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 leakage,

The nose

cone of the first rocket failed to separate from the sustainer motor and was

destroyed when it hit the reef,

The second nose cone was recovered in

the lagoon, and 50 ml. of water 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
s.
ring seal
of the O-

NO
SAN PRE

Re

[

e
e
n

41

Select target paragraph3