ron wenzel
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can anyone tell me what i have
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Someone else will be along who knows better. But it sure doesn't look like a model rocket! The NASA "worm" logo dates the thing to 1992 or so (at the latest), when it was retired. Very interesting! Are you certain it's been safed? How did you come by it?
Yukon@K-9 Rocket Tech
Student, Drone and Rockets, Aspiring Engineer
I have no Idea but I definatley see pop out fins and what looks to me as a main center motor and 2 side motors to spin stabilize. It looks like a part of a rocket that shoots out of a launch tube. I don't know this is all guesses. Looks to me it came off of a research rocket or missile or something
ron wenzel
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ron wenzel
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it came from a surplus auction my dad went to he has had it for a long time ..not sure what he had so I started with this figured it looked like a rocket and you guys are the best..thank you
Ok, thanks. Since there is a little bit of damage on the side of the piece with the nosecone, I imagine it's not a working anything, and since it came from an auction (gov't sponsored, I assume), you are probably safe from being accused of possessing stolen gov't property - I can't find it now but there was a story of some one who went through 9 hells over something that was given to them before they finally won in court. As I recall, it was a more important artifact.
Does it help to assemble the pieces? It looks kinda short for a missile, I wonder if you're missing the middle section.
Does it help to assemble the pieces? It looks kinda short for a missile, I wonder if you're missing the middle section.
ron wenzel
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Yukon@K-9 Rocket Tech
Student, Drone and Rockets, Aspiring Engineer
Thanks for more photos. Remember all my points are guesses. Some of the stickers are original looking at their placement but other stickers jist seem odd. It's odd, looks someone just stuck them on or something. I am all the more convinced that was a tube launch rocket. Pop out fins, and that tri motor array (2 side and one main) minute I saw it it screamed "tube launch missile". Heres a pic below. Although not the identical one as you have, note the part similarity to a TOW tube launch missile 
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ebruce1361
The man with the plan. And some duct tape.
Google searching the (I'm presuming) model number on that motor tube is hitting dead ends. Given that you have serial number 0001, your dad either got really lucky or this is a prototype which may be one-of-a-kind. Is there anything else with any official markings or serial numbers? Also, I can't tell if that motor has been fired or the nozzles just looks discolored/corroded.
Just to be clear, I wasn't accusing you of having stolen property, just saying it could be important for you to be able to prove it, so I hope your dad kept documentation as well as the object itself. Wow, it would be wonderful if you had an 0001 prototype!
Yukon@K-9 Rocket Tech
Student, Drone and Rockets, Aspiring Engineer
Yup I agree. Been searching for the serial number, but it looks like the first prototype of something. Gosh myabe this is some not publicized test article
That sticker above the nozzle that says "Orbiter Right Side" is intriguing. Either some kind of a joke after the program was discontinued - or possibly an artifact from DARPA/"Star Wars" of the Reagan years? Don't know how much cooperation there is/was between NASA & DARPA. It does look like it came out of a label maker, though.
Yukon@K-9 Rocket Tech
Student, Drone and Rockets, Aspiring Engineer
Yup, those stickers all over except a few like the NASA one look unoriginal, or the previous owner was having fun, or the engineers were having fun. Idk
A lot of those markings look spurious to me. Probably applied by a previous owner or something. The nosecone fit is, um, interesting too, especially for something that looks like it should be tube launched.
Neat little artifact though! I hope someone can properly ID it!
Neat little artifact though! I hope someone can properly ID it!
ron wenzel
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no I didn't take it that way just made me think a little bit about it. I'm going to post a few more pics see if any thing can help.. I'm mostly cereous if that thing with the number is a engine or what my father has owned it for 12 or so years and we just opened it up and couldn't believe that whatever it is was in it.. but thank you all for your input we appreciate it..
ebruce1361
The man with the plan. And some duct tape.
Given that it has a stamped Lockheed placard, I wonder if you would have any luck contacting someone over there who could help identify it. Since it says "Lockheed" and not "Lockheed Martin", it definitely predates 1994. I'm trying to narrow down the age a bit more from other details. The worm NASA logo was used from 1975 to 1992, but as has been stated, the authenticity of the stickers and decals are suspect. Besides, there is a stylized NASA meatball on there too, so that confounds the problem.
What about those two 14-pin connectors? Do they have any markings on them? Are there any remaining electronic components besides those connectors? The tailcone has what appears to some kind of optical cover or diffuser. The TOW missiles use a xenon beacon in the tail, so maybe this is similar. Given the size, I almost wonder if this were a prototype for a variant of the TOW missile family.
What about those two 14-pin connectors? Do they have any markings on them? Are there any remaining electronic components besides those connectors? The tailcone has what appears to some kind of optical cover or diffuser. The TOW missiles use a xenon beacon in the tail, so maybe this is similar. Given the size, I almost wonder if this were a prototype for a variant of the TOW missile family.
ron wenzel
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here is a few more pics. It also came with this sigh of Apollo scs bench maintenance witch has a number on the back..and yes it has "fire pierce"on the connector on the front and m1s23658-002 on the back. that's all the electronic components there is
