Draft:Project Far Side

  • Comment: Out of the four references, only two are reliable (the NYTimes ref and the McGraw-Hill book), the second is a database entry in the Smithsonian and the third is from a personal website. Maybe include the info on Air Force Research Laboratory#History instead? Nighfidelity (talk) 16:39, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
  • Comment: interesting. I think it would be great to have at least another secondary source. Astropedian (talk) 16:04, 31 January 2026 (UTC)


Project Far Side (sometimes spelled Farside) was a research program by the AFOSR designed to launch rockoon sounding rockets past an altitude of 4,000 mi (6,437 km)..[1] The program planned six rocket launches in late-1957, with only the final two launches nearing or achieving success.

The fifth and sixth launches may have reached a potential altitude of 4,000 mi (6,437 km).[2]

Rocket Design

The Far Side rockets were built by Aeronutronic Systems, Inc. using a four-stage solid-propellant rocket.[1][3] They were designed to launch with a 200 ft (62 m) diameter balloon and rise to an altitude of 100,000 ft (30 km) then fired through the balloon and into a high altitude.[2]

The rocket was 24 ft long and weighed 1,970 lbs with a payload of 3–5 lbs. It could reach a speed of nearly 18,000 mph.[1]

Launch History

Project Far Side had six launches from 25 September 1957 to 22 October 1957. All launched from Enewetak Atoll.[1][3]

  1. Shot 1 — 25 September 1957 — Rockets failed to fire — apogee: 12 mi
  2. Shot 2 — 3 October 1957 — Transmitter damaged; maximum altitude undetermined — known apogee: 490 mi
  3. Shot 3 — 7 October 1957 — Transmitter failed, several rockets did not ignite — known apogee: 430 mi
  4. Shot 4 — 11 October 1957 — Failure — apogee: 18 mi
  5. Shot 5 — 20 October 1957 — Transmitter lost contact — apogee: 3,200 mi
  6. Shot 6 — 22 October 1957 — Lost contact for 75 minutes, possibly due to rocket exceeding transmitter range — apogee: 3,200 mi (potentially 4,000 mi)

Scientists and officers on the project warily noted that the sixth shot may have surpassed 4,000 mi. However, the United States Air Force did not reach an official conclusion.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ordway III, Frederick I.; Wakeford, Ronald C. (1960). International Missile and Spacecraft Guide. McGraw-Hill. ASIN B000MAEGVC.
  2. ^ a b "Far Side Sounding Rocket | National Air and Space Museum". airandspace.si.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  3. ^ a b "Farside". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  4. ^ Finney, John W. (October 26, 1957). "Air Force Data Indicate Rocket Soared 4,000 Miles to a Record; Scientists Still Evaluating Reports From Farside Test in Pacific". The New York Times. p. 5. Retrieved January 12, 2026.

Category:Sounding rockets of the United States Category:1950s in spaceflight Category:Rockets and missiles

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