Gradicom

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Patch for the "GRADICOM III" mission. Gradicom III mission patch.jpg
Patch for the "GRADICOM III" mission.

GRADICOM (GRAndes DImensiones COMpuestos) are a series of Argentine rockets with, according to CITEDEF, the ultimate goal of developing a vector that can be used for military purposes as a missile (with a guidance and control system) or as a sounding rocket (in free trajectory) for civilian purposes. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Gradicom I

The GRADICOM I (PCX-900) was launched on December 17, 2009, from Serrezuela, Córdoba province, in order to certify the GRADICOM engine in flight. [6] [5] [2]

It was developed by the Center for Scientific and Technological Research for Defense (CITEDEF), under the direction of Vice Commodore Carlos Vásquez. [6]

The engine used solid fuel (HTPB, ammonium perchlorate, aluminum and other compounds), and had a diameter of 32 cm and a length of 2.5 m. [6] [5] The rocket had a total mass of 500 kg and a length of 4.45 m. [6]

Gradicom II

GRADICOM II (PCX2) was launched on July 11, 2011, from CELPA (El Chamical), Argentine province of La Rioja. [7] [3] [4] [8]

Developed by CITEDEF, GRADICOM II was a two-stage vector based on the development of the GRADICOM I. [4] [9] The project involved 70 experts for a year and had a cost of 4 million pesos. The rocket weighed 933 kg and measured 7.7 meters. [4]

Gradicom III

GRADICOM III was planned to be launched in 2015. [10] [7] [1] [11]

References

  1. 1 2 InfoDefensa, Revista Defensa. "Eduardo Fabre, presidente del CITEDEF: Estamos desarrollando el Gradicom III, un cohete más potente". Infodefensa - Noticias de defensa, industria, seguridad, armamento, ejércitos y tecnología de la defensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  2. 1 2 "Gradicom-1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  3. 1 2 "Gradicom-2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Gradicom 2". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  5. 1 2 3 "Gradicom 1". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  6. 1 2 3 4 ":: Ministerio de Defensa - República Argentina ::". 2011-07-18. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  7. 1 2 MAZ. "Gradicom II y III - Machtres Aeronautica y Espacio". www.machtres.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  8. Defensa.com (2021-07-12). "Diez años desde el lanzamiento del cohete Gradicom II - Noticias Defensa defensa.com Edición América Latina". Defensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  9. MAZ. "Validation of rocket motor GRADICOM PCX - Machtres Fighters". www.machtres.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  10. Ecosalta (2012-08-10). "CAMPO NACIONAL Y POPULAR: ARGENTINA: EL COHETE GRADICOM III SERÍA LANZADO A FIN DE AÑO". CAMPO NACIONAL Y POPULAR. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  11. STORACCIO; DIEGO; BRITO; MARCOS (2016). Nota Técnica: Estudio Complementario de Seguridad de Vuelo para el Lanzamiento del Cohete Gradicom III desde CELPA I - Córdoba.