Blue Scout Jr.
Blue Scout Junior at Complex 18, Pad A Zoom

Blue Scout Junior was part of the Blue Scout family. The Blue Scout program was an Air Force (hence the "Blue") variant of NASA's Scout rocket. The smallest of the Blue Scout family was the XRM-91 Blue Scout Junior, a four-stage, unguided research rocket. Though it lacked guidance equipment (gyros, etc.), the Blue Scout Junior was spin stabilized through the use of small spin rockets on the second stage.

As you can see in the photo, the Blue Scout Junior was launched from a beam (the same design was used to launch U.S. Army Sergeant missiles) rather than a launch stand.

As it evolved, the Blue Scout Junior was used well into the 1970's. After Complex 18 was deactivated, Blue Scout Junior was launched from Vandenberg AFB, Kwajalein, and other sites.

Blue Scout Jr. specifications and performance
Length 40 ft., 5.8 in. Diameter 31 in.
Stage Stage name Engine(s) Propellant(s) Thrust
1 Castor 1 Thiokol XM33 Solid 58,300 lbs.
2 Antares 1 Hercules X-254 Solid 13,600 lbs.
3 Alcor 1 Aerojet AJ10-41 Solid 8,000 lbs.
4 Cetus 1 NOTS 100A Solid 900 lbs.

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Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force
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