From Handwiki
Sonda ("Probe" in English) is a family of Brazil ian-built sounding rockets which serves as an R&D path to the VLS (Portuguese: Veículo Lançador de Satélites) orbital rocket. Launches started in 1965 and continue to this day. Launch sites include Wallops Island, Andoya, Kiruna, Natal, Alcântara, Cassino and SvalRak.[1][2][3]
The Sonda I is a two stage rocket (S10-1 + S-10-2 rocket stages) with a maximum flight altitude of 65 km, a liftoff thrust of 27 kN a total mass of 100 kg, a diameter of 11 cm and a length of 4.5 metres. It was launched 9 times between 1965 and 1966.[4]
Diagram with Sonda I rocket dimensions

Sonda I on display

Sonda 1 (right) at Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro
The Sonda II is a single stage rocket (S-20 rocket stage) with a maximum flight altitude of 180 km, a Liftoff Thrust of 36.00 kN, a total mass of 400 kg, a core Diameter of 0.30 m and a total Length of 5.60 m. It was launched 7 times between 1990 and 1996.[5]
Diagram with Sonda II rocket dimensions

Sonda II at Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro

Sonda II at Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro

Sonda II on display

Sonda II on display
Sonda II at Parque Santos Dumont
Sonda III is a two stage rocket available in three versions, the Sonda III (S30 + S-20 rocket stages), the Sonda III M1 (S30 + S-23 rocket stages) and the Sonda IIIA (S30 + S33 rocket stages).[6] The first two versions rockets have a maximum flight altitude of 600 km, a liftoff Thrust of 102.00 kN, a diameter of 0.30 m and a length of 8.00 m. However Sonda 3 weighs 1500 kg while Sonda 3 M1 weighs 1400 kg at launch. It was launched 27 times between 1976 and 2002.[7]
Diagram with Sonda III rocket dimensions

Sonda III rocket variations

Sonda III at Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro

Sonda III at Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro

Sonda III at Barreira do Inferno
Sonda III on display
Sonda III at Parque Santos Dumont
Sonda IV is a two stage rocket (S30 + S-43 rocket stages) with a maximum flight altitude of 800 km, a liftoff Thrust of 203.00 kN, a total Mass of 7200 kg, a diameter of 1.01 m and a length of 11.00 m. It was launched 7 times between 1984 and 1990.[8]
Diagram with Sonda IV rocket dimensions

Sonda IV at Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro

Sonda IV at Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro
Sonda IV on display
Sonda IV on display
Sonda IV at Parque Santos Dumont

Sonda IV on pad
![]() |
Categories: [Rockets and missiles]