Pencil Rocket. Exhibit in the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan.
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Function | Technology demonstration |
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Manufacturer | Avionics and Supersonic Aerodynamics |
Country of origin | Japan |
Size | |
Height | 23 cm (9.1 in) |
Diameter | 1.8 cm (0.71 in) |
Mass | 200 g (7.1 oz) |
Stages | 1 |
Launch history | |
Status | Retired |
Total launches | 29 |
First flight | 12 April 1955 |
Last flight | 23 April 1955 |
The Pencil Rocket was developed by the Avionics and Supersonic Aerodynamics (AVSA) research group in the early days of Japan's space development. A prominent engineer on the project was Hideo Itokawa. The rocket was first launched on 12 April 1955. The dimensions were 23 cm in length by 1.8 cm in diameter, weighing 200 grams.