The Black Brant XII is a four-stage, solid propellant sounding rocket consisting of a Talos 1st stage, Taurus 2nd stage, Black Brant 3rd stage, and Nihka 4th stage. This vehicle is capable of lifting anywhere from 522 kg (1000 lbs) to a 500 km altitude to 136 kg (250 lbs) to approximately 1400 km. Normally, the Black Brant XII is flown in northern latitudes in the winter months where magnetic anomalies such as the Aurora Borealis are visible.
NASA
Statistics
Launches: 23
Failures: 2
First Launch Date: 1988-09-30
Last Launch Date: 2007-12-10
Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi).
Total Mass: 5,300 kg (11,600 lb)
Total Length: 17.00 m (55.00 ft)
Core Diameter: 0.76 m (2.49 ft)
Stage1: 1 x Talos-1. Gross Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Motor: 1 x Talos Mk 11 Mod 2. Thrust (vac): 516.000 kN (116,001 lbf). Burn time: 5.20 sec. Length: 3.40 m (11.10 ft). Diameter: 0.76 m (2.49 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Stage2: 1 x Taurus Nike Tomahawk-1. Gross Mass: 1,363 kg (3,004 lb). Empty Mass: 602 kg (1,327 lb). Motor: 1 x Taurus. Thrust (vac): 457.000 kN (102,737 lbf). Burn time: 3.50 sec. Length: 4.19 m (13.74 ft). Diameter: 0.58 m (1.90 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Stage3: 1 x 26KS20000. Gross Mass: 1,264 kg (2,786 lb). Empty Mass: 268 kg (590 lb). Motor: 1 x 26KS20000. Thrust (vac): 75.700 kN (17,018 lbf). Burn time: 27 sec. Length: 5.30 m (17.30 ft). Diameter: 0.44 m (1.44 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Stage4: 1 x 17KS12000. Gross Mass: 399 kg (879 lb). Empty Mass: 70 kg (154 lb). Motor: 1 x Nihka. Thrust (vac): 50.500 kN (11,353 lbf). Burn time: 17 sec. Length: 2.00 m (6.50 ft). Diameter: 0.44 m (1.44 ft). Propellants: Solid.