In March 1957 an Aerojet engineer conceived of the 'ultimate Aerobee', with the body diameter increased to 46 cm diameter and powered by four engines. The design found no takers until it was pitched to NASA in 1961 and development was authorised. The final configuration selected used a Nike Ajax missile booster, 56 cm in diameter, followed by the Aerobee 350, equipped with 4 Aerobee 150A engines. The rocket could take 65 kg to 480 km altitude or 455 kg to 240 km altitude. NASA funded the rocket in FY 1964, and the first test with a live booster and dummy upper stage took place at Wallops Island on 11 December 1964. The first all-up flight took place on 18 June 1965 and a total of twenty were subsequently flown. The 2 stage vehicle consisted of 1 x Nike + 1 x AJ60-91 (Source: www.astronautix.com)
(NASA Photo courtesy Joel Powell)
Statistics
Length: 15.90 m (52.10 ft)
Diamter: 0.56 m (1.83 ft)
Finspan: 2.30 m (7.50 ft)
Weight: 3,839 kg (8,463 lb)
Payload: 227 kg (500 lb)
Apogee: 450 km (270 mi)
Liftoff thrust: 217,000 kN (48,783 lbf)
Total launches: 20
First launch date: Dec 11, 1964
Last launch date: May 9, 1984