APOLLO MISSION CONTROL PHOTO PLUS

Japanese MT-135 & U.S. ARCAS - "Met Rockets"

The purpose of the Japan - United States Meteorological Rocket Project is to conduct comparative meteorological research at altitudes of 20 to 60 kilometres, using a Japanese MT-135 rocket and a U.S. system called the Arcas. Both rockets are "Met Rocket" systems and are very similar in design and use.

Basic objectives are to compare and cross-calibrate data from the various payloads; to verify flight and operating characteristics of the two rocket systems; to obtain addition data on diurnal (day-night) cycles of wind and temperature in the stratosphere.

NASA and two Japanese agencies; the Science and Technology Agency and the Meteorological Agency agreed on the project on December 26, 1966. The Japanese agencies furnished ten MT-135 rockets and payloads, launcher, tracking equipment, and a team of twelve Japanese scientists and technicians to assemble, launch, and operate their tracking equipment.

The first duel flights were launched from Wallops Island, Va. on 31 March 1967 - Six duel flights on 4 April 1967 and 3 each on April 5, 1967.

Arcas stands for - All-Purpose Rocket for Collecting Atmospheric Soundings - The Arcas was developed by the Atlantic Research Corporation for the Office of Naval Research with the support of the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics and the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories. Primarily a meteorological rocket, the Arcas was first fired in July 1959 and the single-stage version was designed to lift 5.4 kg to 64 km.

MT-135 was a small single-stage sounding rocket designed to collect data on the middle atmosphere. It was development by the University of Tokyo and the Meteorology Agency began in 1963. Its maiden flight was in July, 1964. Though the initial trials were not completely successful due to rocket instability, the MT-135 became reliable after a series of improvements.

£6.95

Japanese MT-135 Payloads Inspection

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-367

March 1967

Messrs. Masao Sawaki, Counsellor and Teruo Ichinose, First Secretary (Scientific) of the Japanese Embassy inspect the payloads for the MT-135 weather rocket launches.

NASA and two Japanese agencies; the Science and Technology Agency and the Meteorological Agency agreed on the project on December 26, 1966. The Japanese agencies are furnishing 10 MT-135 rockets and payloads, launcher, trecking equipment and a team of 12 Japanese scientists and technicians to assemble, launch, and operate their tracking equipment.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£7.95

Mr Sekiguchi & MT-135 Payload Checkout

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-364

March 1967

Mr. Y. Sekiguchi, a member of the Japanese launch team, examines the payload for the Japanese MT-135 weather rocket. The payload a radiosonde type will be ejected at apogee (38 statute miles) and descend on parachutes. Wind and temperature measurements will then be radioed to ground receiving stations.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£7.95

Mr Kobane & MT-135 Payload Checkout

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-365

31 March 1967

Mr. F. Kobane, a member of the Japanese launch team makes a final checkout and assembly on the payload, a radiosonde type, to be used on the first Japanese MT-135 rocket.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£7.95

MT-135 Pre-Launch Meeting

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-354

31 March 1967

The program managers for the Joint Japan-U. S. Weather Rocket program, Messrs. J. Duke and J. F. Spurling of NASA and Hnosuke Arizumi discuss final launch preparations for the first MT-135 rocket with the Japanese launch crew. In the background is one of the MT-135 Japanese rockets that will be used later on in the program.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£8.95

MT-135 Positioned On Launcher

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-357

31 March 1967

The Japanese MT-135 rocket positioned on the launcher for the first in a series of joint Japan-U. S. weather rocket launches from Wallops Island.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£8.95

Japanese MT-135 At Final Elevation

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-358

31 March 1967

The Japanese MT-135 is set at final elevation on the launcher by members of the Japanese launch crew for the first in a series of joint Japan-U. S. weather rocket launches from Wallops Island.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£8.95

MT-135 Set At Final Elevation

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-356

31 March 1967

The Japanese MT-135 is set at final elevation on the launcher by members of the Japanese launch crew for the first in a series of joint Japan-U. S. weather rocket launches from Wallops Island.

Professor Fumio Tamaki of the University of Tokyo, consultant for the joint project, talks with members of the launch team for the launching of the first Japanese MT-135 rocket. In the background you can see the U.S. ARCAS launcher.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£8.95

Project Managers Inspect MT-135

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-355

31 March 1967

The managers for the joint Japan-U. S. weather rocket launches, Mr. J. Duke, Operations Manager, Mr. J. P. Spurling, Project Manager (NASA) and Mr. Naosuke Arizumi, Project Manager (Japan) inspect the Japanese MT-135 rocket and launcher on the pad just before the first in the series of 10 joint weather rocket launches.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£6.95

Japanese Team Position Their Radar

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-359

31 March 1967

Two members of the Japanese launch team position their radar unit for the first launching of the MT-135 rocket.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£7.95

Kobane & Romig During Final Countdown

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-360

31 March 1967

Mr. F. Kobane, a member of the Japanese team maintains voice communication with the launch crew in the final minutes of the countdown for the first launch in the series of weather rockets using the Japanese MT-135 and the U.S. Arcas rocket systems. Wallops Island Operations Manager, Mr. Charles Romig of NASA observes the procedures.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£8.95

The First MT-135 Rocket Lift Off

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-346

31 March 1967

The first in a series of ten pairs of Japanese and United States meteorological rockets was launched from NASA's Wallops Station at 1:29 p.m. EST on 31 March 1967.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£6.95

Data From First MT-135 Rocket

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-363

31 March 1967

Members of the Japanese launch team scan the data coming in from the payload of the Japanese MT-135 minutes after the first launch in a series of joint rocket launches between Japan and the U.S. at Wallops Island, VA.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£6.95

Mr Uens Checks Data From 1st MT-135

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-362

31 March 1967

Mr. D. Uens, a member of the Japanese launch team checks the data from the first Japanese MT-135 rocket, minutes after the first launch at Wallops Island, VA.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£7.95

Data From 1st MT-135 Rocket Received

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-366

31 March 1967

Mr. Robert Kreiger, Station Director, Wallops Island, and members of the Japanese Embassy observe data being received from the Japanese MT-135 rocket launched the first in a series of launches to compare and cross calibrate with the U.S. Areas system.

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

£7.95

Japanese MT-135 Post Launch Press Conference

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 67-H-368

March 1967

Mr. J. F. Spurling, Program Manager for the joint weather rocket program conducts the press conferences after the first successful launching of the Japanese MT-135 and the U.S. "Arcas" rockets.

L-R; Mr Arnold Frutking (NASA); Mr Nasao Sawaki, Japanese Embassy; Mr R. Schneider, State Department;; Mr Naosuke Arizumi, Program Manager (Japan); Professor Fumio Tamake, Consultant (Japan); Mr J. F. Spurling, Program Manager (NASA); Mr Chas. James (NSAS); Dr. Morris Topper (NASA); Mr Teruo Ichinose (scientific) 1st Secretary, Japanese Embassy and Mr R. L. Kreiger (NASA).

This very fine vintage NASA glossy photograph is in near mint condition.

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