Rocket Record

A Navy Aerobee-Hi research rocket reached the altitude of 163 miles last week over White Sands Proving Ground, N. Mex. This was Aerobee-Hi's fourth try for the single-stage altitude record; three earlier rockets failed to break the Viking's record of 158 miles.

The Aerobee-Hi is not strictly a single-stage rocket. It is tossed into the air by a solid-fuel booster that burns for a few seconds. The booster does not contribute much altitude. One of the earlier Aerobee-Hi's failed because the main rocket did not ignite. The booster alone raised it only 10,000 ft.

The purpose of the Aerobee-Hi is to probe the upper atmosphere during the International Geophysical Year, 1957-58. Naval spokesmen deny the persistent rumor that it is being groomed as the second stage of the three-stage rocket that will place the U.S. satellite on its earth-circling orbit.

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