Salto di Quirra

Salto di Quirra is a rocket launching site near Perdasdefogu on Sardinia (geographical coordinates: 39°36 ' northern latitude, 9°26 ' eastern longitude).

Salto di Quirra primarily launches military rockets, but civilian rockets, such as the Skylark, have occasionally been launched for the study of the upper atmosphere.

The Salto di Quirra polygon is located close to the town of Perdasdefogu in a mountainous zone at the south-east of Sardinia.It is an inter-arm polygon, currently placed under the authority of the Italian Air Force. Its main activity deals with the tests of various types of tactical missiles used or built by Italy, or in collaboration.

This base was used, at the beginning of the 1960s, for the first sounding rockets launches carried out by the CRA (Centro Ricerche Aerospaziali) in co-operation with the Italian Air Force and NASA Three campaigns of Nike Asp and Nike Cajun launches took place, in 1961 and 1963.

From 1964 and until 1972, it was used for the ESRO sounding rockets program using especially Skylark and Centaure rockets, but also Belier and Zenit During this period, some sounding rockets were also launched on behalf of Switzerland and Germany.

After 1972, the Salto di Quirra activities in the field of rocketry were limited to national programs. Three Alfa experimental vehicles were launched successfully in 1973-75. A test of San Marco Scout rocket, in 1992, was less successful.

Vega test firings

Zefiro 9

Two test firings of the Zefiro 9 rocket engine, designed to power the third stage of the Vega launch vehicle, have been conducted at Salto di Quirra. The first test firing took place 20 December 2005 and was a complete success. [ESA: Successful first test for Vega's Zefiro 9 engine [http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMNL68A9HE_index_0.html] ] The second firing, on 28 March 2007, experienced unexpected anomalous behavior. [ESA: Anomalous behaviour affects firing test of Vega’s Zefiro 9 motor [http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMCVFT4LZE_index_0.html] ]

External links

*http://www.univ-perp.fr/fuseurop/salto_e.htm
*http://www.astronautix.com/sites/saluirra.htm
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&ll=39.607044,9.447985&spn=0.028104,0.058537&om=0 Satellite picture]