Lightweight ExoAtmospheric Projectile (LEAP) - United States ...

12.4 Pteflight and Flight Test Activities
LEAP target I1unce pJflight actiities will include transporting various vehicle components,
fuels, and testing equi~ment to the launch site. Inspection of the various components of
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the LEAP vehicle, ass~mbly, and fueling operations will take place at the launch pad.
Flight test activities bebn at the completion of final checkout at the launch pad when the
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launch vehicle is turned over to launch personnel. Flight test activities include the launch,
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monitoring, and control of the vehicle during flight, flight safety, and retrieval of data from
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the flight. Preflight and flight test activities will take place at two major U.S. Government
test ranges (WSMR Jd USAKA) and at a U.S. Government installation that has the
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necessary facilities (Wake Island Airfield) but is not currently staffed for rocket launches.
This section outlines th~ details of these activities.
1.2.4.1 Flikt Profiles
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Currently, three types Jf flight experiments are planned for the LEAP Program. These
include:
1)
2)
3)
Mission Operations Checkout Flight (MOCF);
Single Rocket! Launch with LEAP projectile and Target;
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Two Rocket Launch with LEAP projectile and Target in Separate Launch
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Ve hi cles.
All three types of experiments will occur at WSMR using Aries rocket boosters. Three of
the experiments will use! a single stage solid fuel booster (the Checkout Flight and the
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Single Rocket Launch with PMB and target). A fourth experiment will be a two-rocket
launch with PMB and tluget in separate launch vehicles.
vehicles can be seen in Figure 6.
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Both types of LEAP flight
In addition to these flighh, ~o LEAP flights will occur at USAKA Both flights will be
two-rocket Jaunches with ~he LEAP projectile and target in separate launch vehicles.· The
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