A disappearing rocket is a rocket, usually a sounding rocket, which is designed so that parts of the rocket body which usually fall back to the ground first explode into small pieces, in order to avoid harm to persons and objects on the ground. Such a rocket can thus be launched outside restricted areas.

The experimental rocket GM-12 designed by KTS in Bonn-Beuel was an example of disappearing rocket. It had a length of 1.85 metres, a launch weight of 23 kg, a diameter of 0.116 metres and a burn time of 2.25 seconds. This rocket with a maximum flight altitude of 12 kilometres may have been the only disappearing rocket ever flown. The greatest problem at disappearing rockets is that metal parts, which are necessary for parts of the cone are difficult to break in small pieces. In the 1960s, efforts were also made in the United States to design a frangible version of the Arcas rocket [1].

[edit] Source

• "Meteorologische Raketen in Deutschland", H.-U. Widdel, Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Raumfahrtstellung e.V., Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz, Germany, Page 37-46

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