Aerobee

The Aerobee was a type of sounding rocket developed in the United States. Sounding rockets are unmanned vehicles designed to explore atmospheric conditions and structure at altitudes beyond the reach of airplanes and balloons, but below what satellites can practically investigate.1

Aerobees typically followed a vertical trajectory, carrying scientific instruments into the upper atmosphere. These rockets played a role in various scientific endeavors, including detecting X rays and auroral particles, photographing the solar ultraviolet spectrum, and measuring atmospheric pressure, temperature, composition, and density. They also served as platforms for testing instruments intended for use in satellites and space probes. Aerobees varied in size and capability, with some capable of lifting payloads to significant altitudes.1