Jul 29 1952

From The Space Library

First Rockoon (balloon-launched rocket) launched from icebreaker East-wind off Greenland by ONR group under James A. Van Allen. Rockoon low-cost technique was the idea of Alvin Edward Moore who proposed using balloons for both launch and recovery of rockets in an article in February 1937 for Popular Aviation magazine entitled "Space Navigation by Rocket." Later discussions took place aboard the USS Norton Sound during Aerobee firing cruise in March 1949. In 1951 Kurt Stehling wrote to James van Allen encouraging him to attempt a Rockoon firing. Later Stehling and Van Allen began a series of tests with the University of Iowa research groups in 1952-55 and 1957, from ships in the sea between Boston and Thule, Greenland.