Meteoric Dust and Smoke Particle Sampling Launch

Green Launch utilizes a light-gas propulsion system powered by hydrogen and oxygen gas. This combustion technology accelerates specialized launch vehicles to high velocities through a long launch tube. Because the propulsion byproduct is water vapor rather than dense rocket exhaust particulates, scientific payloads can collect pristine meteoric dust and smoke particle samples without self-contamination.

The mesosphere has traditionally been difficult to reach regularly because sounding rockets can be costly and aircraft cannot achieve those altitudes. Green Launch addresses this challenge using light-gas launch tubes that propel compact scientific vehicles directly into the stratosphere and mesosphere. This method provides climatologists and atmospheric scientists with consistent, repeatable opportunities to capture in-situ particulate samples.

The sampling vehicles utilize specialized wound fiberglass for the vehicle body. This material provides exceptional compressive strength to withstand the severe acceleration forces encountered inside the launch tube while keeping the overall vehicle weight low. Additionally, wound fiberglass is RF-transparent, allowing internal antennas to transmit data effectively without being exposed to high external flight heating.

Traditional sounding rockets rely on solid or liquid chemical propellants that can emit combustion residue and present high recurring mission costs. In contrast, Green Launch uses an environmentally friendly hydrogen and oxygen propellant that emits clean water vapor. This light-gas technology provides a low-cost, repeatable launch alternative designed for frequent atmospheric research missions and rapid payload turnaround.

Green Launch conducts its launch testing and operational firing campaigns at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The team has executed multiple successful horizontal test series as well as vertical stratospheric launches at this facility, systematically validating gas manifold pressures, structural vehicle integrity, propellant capture, and high-velocity flight dynamics under controlled proving ground protocols.

Green Launch has demonstrated projectile launch velocities of 2.97 kilometers per second, which corresponds to Mach 9, utilizing a one-stage light-gas combustion system. In vertical stratospheric test launches with a 54-foot tube, payloads have accelerated beyond Mach 3, demonstrating the structural capability to reach the high atmospheric altitudes required for mesospheric dust sampling.

Green Launch has demonstrated capturing over 91% of the propellant used in its light-gas launcher system. Propellant capture significantly dampens the acoustic signature and minimizes muzzle flash during launch events. This capability improves operational efficiency at the launch site and ensures cleaner departure conditions for delicate scientific payloads deployed into the atmosphere.

Yes, scientific research organizations and climatologists can design custom instrumentation and particulate sampling mechanisms to fit within the vehicle's wound fiberglass chassis. The vehicle protects sensitive sensors and sampling filters during the launch phase, allowing instruments to gather meteoric dust, smoke particles, and ionospheric telemetry once reaching target operational altitudes.