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| B-58攜帶ALBM飛彈的各種角度。注意最左下角，那是相機組，裝在第四次試射的飛彈彈頭內。來自：Jay Miller, "Convair B-58 Hustler, The World's First Supersonic Bomber", Aerofax 1985; Midland Publishing 2001. p. 85. |
WS-199C High Virgo ALBM一共發射四次，第三次成功測試慣性導航系統，航道最高達到32英哩，是最成功的一次。第四次在彈頭中裝上相機，以軌道上的Explorer IV衛星為目標，想要在近距離拍下它的相片，是一次早期的反衛星試驗，比後來的ASAT早25年。因為弄錯Explorer IV的軌道，所以在出發前臨時把目標改為Explorer V。不幸試驗沒成功－飛彈點火後30秒就失去音訊，官方報告說「不知道飛彈出了什麼事，也不知道它跟衛星到底靠到多近。」
Explorer系列的軌道參數可以Explorer IV為例：7/26/1958發射，10/23/1959重返，壽命454天。軌道週期110分鐘，近地點高度263公里。可見第四次發射是一個相當大膽的計畫－上一次50公里，這次就是263公里。
這一頁 http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/JacksIron/B-58.html 是Jacks Iron，當年B-58 ALBM計畫的電子檢查員（electronics inspector, 地面的crew，非飛行組員）在他的個人網頁簡介ALBM計畫。其中幾段摘要如下：
During the spring of 1958, there were various proposals for air-launched ballistic missiles (ALBMs) that could be carried underneath the B-58. Sufficient interest was generated that the Air Force agreed to fund an experimental program under the code name Snap Shot. On each of the four launches a self supporting crew with equipment and Airplane would be put in place back in the Pines at Eglin AFB. It was so secret not many even knew we were there. We would prepare the airplane and missile and then dash of the Pines to a cleared runway and be gone. The Lockheed Missiles and Space Systems division was to be given the responsibility of developing the missile, whereas Convair was to design a special centerline underfuselage pylon that could carry and launch the missile.
1958年春季，有各式各樣可供B-58掛載的空射彈道飛彈方案提出，空軍終於同意資助一個試驗計畫，稱為Snap Shot（快照）。預定進行四次試射，由一個獨立小組及設備支援位在Eglin空軍基地內Pines處的飛機（Eglin AFB是一個很大的地方，Pines可能指裡面某個地點，但地圖上查不到－譯註）。計畫非常機密，沒什麼人知道我們在那裡。我們備便好飛機和飛彈，就到Pines那裡空出來的跑道上升空。洛克希德飛彈與太空部門負責開發飛彈，康威爾則負責設計掛載和發射飛彈專用的機腹中線掛架。
B-58 serial number 55-0660 was allocated to the project. B-58 660 was a Flight Control and Stability Flight Test Airplane. Four missiles were initially ordered from Lockheed. The missile project was known under the code name High Virgo and was given project number 199C. In order to save money and speed up the project, Lockheed elected to use proven components from the XQ-5, the X-17, the Polaris and the Sergeant missile programs. The Lockheed-designed ALBM ended up being 30 feet long and had a diameter of 31 inches. The missile was to be guided by an Autonetics inertial system. The rocket engine was a Thiokol XM-20 solid-fuel motor offering a thrust of 50,000 pounds for 39 seconds. There were four guidance fins installed around the exhaust nozzle skirt. The total weight of the missile was about 12,000 pounds. The first of the four missiles was guided by a pre-programmed autopilot, since the inertial system was not yet ready.
試驗使用編號55-0660的B-58進行，這架B-58原先是飛控和穩定性測試機，並向洛克希德訂購四枚飛彈。計畫代號High Virgo（高白羊），編號定為199C。為節省經費、加速計畫進行，洛克希德從XQ-5、X-17、北極星飛彈、Sergeant（下士）飛彈計畫中取用技術成熟的零件建造飛彈。完成的飛彈長度30呎，直徑31吋，使用Autonetics慣性導引系統，Thiokol XM-20固態燃料火箭，可產生50,000磅推力，為時39秒鐘。排氣口外裙周圍裝有四枚控制翼。飛彈總重約12,000磅。因為慣導系統還沒完成，第一枚飛彈先採用預置自動駕駛導引。
The first air launch took place from 55-0660 on September 5, 1958 over the Cape Canaveral range. The missile dropped free from the B-58, and six seconds later the rocket engine ignited. Unfortunately, several seconds into powered flight the missile's control system failed and sent the missile into violent oscillations, forcing the immediate destruction of the missile and termination of the flight.
首次試射在1958年9月5日，由B-58 55-0660在加納維爾角測試場發射。飛彈從B-58拋下六秒後點火，但進入動力飛行後數秒鐘控制系統就故障，造成飛彈激烈的震動，只好立刻摧毀。試驗也因此結束。
The second missile was tested on December 19, 1958 also guided by a pre-programmed autopilot. This time the results were much better, with a launch taking place at Mach 1.6. A maximum speed of Mach 6 was reached, and a total range of 185 miles was achieved. A third launch, which took place on June 4, 1959, was the first one where the inertial guidance system was used. This launch was also successful, and a maximum altitude of 32 miles was achieved.
第二枚試射在1958年12月19日，同樣使用預置自動駕駛導引。結果比第一次好得多，在母機1.6馬赫時發射，飛彈速度最高達到馬赫6，總射程達到185英哩。1959年6月4日第三次試射成功， 首次使用慣性導航系統。彈道最高達到32英哩。
The fourth and last launch was reserved for a different purpose. Lockheed modified the last ALBM to be significantly lighter than its three predecessors, and equipped it with a longer nose which contained 13 cameras which would be used to photograph an orbiting satellite. The object of the test was to see if it were possible to intercept and destroy an orbiting earth satellite. The missile was given the name King Lofus IV. The target of the King Lofus IV launch was to be the Explorer IV satellite. However, shortly before the launch it was found that Explorer IV's orbital parameters were inaccurately known, and the target was located over New Orleans instead of the Florida Missile Test Range. The target was changed to the newly-launched Explorer V. The launch took place on September 22, 1959, with the launching B-58 flying at an altitude of 37,500 feet and a speed of Mach 2. The launch went smoothly enough, but 30 seconds later all contact with the missile was lost. The official report was "It is not known what happened to the missile, and how close it got to Explorer V. " We could see the B-58 contrail and the sharp pull up and missile firing.
第四枚飛彈就很不一樣。洛克希德修改了這最後一枚飛彈，使它比前面三枚都輕，鼻錐加長，內裝13個相機，用來拍攝軌道中的衛星，目標就是檢驗是否可能攔截並摧毀衛星。飛彈取名為King Lofus IV，原定要拍攝探險者4號衛星，不過在發射前不久才發現弄錯了衛星的軌道參數，測試時它會在紐奧良上空而不靠近佛羅里達飛彈測試場，於是目標改為探險者5號。飛彈在1959年9月22日試射，發射時B-58發射母機在38,500呎高度以馬赫2飛行。發射相當順利，但跟飛彈的通訊只維持了30秒就通通失去了。官方報告說：「不知道飛彈出了什麼事，也不知道它跟探險者5號靠到多近。」至少我們可以看到B-58的凝結尾，大角度爬升，然後發射飛彈。
1958年春季，有各式各樣可供B-58掛載的空射彈道飛彈方案提出，空軍終於同意資助一個試驗計畫，稱為Snap Shot（快照）。預定進行四次試射，由一個獨立小組及設備支援位在Eglin空軍基地內Pines處的飛機（Eglin AFB是一個很大的地方，Pines可能指裡面某個地點，但地圖上查不到－譯註）。計畫非常機密，沒什麼人知道我們在那裡。我們備便好飛機和飛彈，就到Pines那裡空出來的跑道上升空。洛克希德飛彈與太空部門負責開發飛彈，康威爾則負責設計掛載和發射飛彈專用的機腹中線掛架。
B-58 serial number 55-0660 was allocated to the project. B-58 660 was a Flight Control and Stability Flight Test Airplane. Four missiles were initially ordered from Lockheed. The missile project was known under the code name High Virgo and was given project number 199C. In order to save money and speed up the project, Lockheed elected to use proven components from the XQ-5, the X-17, the Polaris and the Sergeant missile programs. The Lockheed-designed ALBM ended up being 30 feet long and had a diameter of 31 inches. The missile was to be guided by an Autonetics inertial system. The rocket engine was a Thiokol XM-20 solid-fuel motor offering a thrust of 50,000 pounds for 39 seconds. There were four guidance fins installed around the exhaust nozzle skirt. The total weight of the missile was about 12,000 pounds. The first of the four missiles was guided by a pre-programmed autopilot, since the inertial system was not yet ready.
試驗使用編號55-0660的B-58進行，這架B-58原先是飛控和穩定性測試機，並向洛克希德訂購四枚飛彈。計畫代號High Virgo（高白羊），編號定為199C。為節省經費、加速計畫進行，洛克希德從XQ-5、X-17、北極星飛彈、Sergeant（下士）飛彈計畫中取用技術成熟的零件建造飛彈。完成的飛彈長度30呎，直徑31吋，使用Autonetics慣性導引系統，Thiokol XM-20固態燃料火箭，可產生50,000磅推力，為時39秒鐘。排氣口外裙周圍裝有四枚控制翼。飛彈總重約12,000磅。因為慣導系統還沒完成，第一枚飛彈先採用預置自動駕駛導引。
The first air launch took place from 55-0660 on September 5, 1958 over the Cape Canaveral range. The missile dropped free from the B-58, and six seconds later the rocket engine ignited. Unfortunately, several seconds into powered flight the missile's control system failed and sent the missile into violent oscillations, forcing the immediate destruction of the missile and termination of the flight.
首次試射在1958年9月5日，由B-58 55-0660在加納維爾角測試場發射。飛彈從B-58拋下六秒後點火，但進入動力飛行後數秒鐘控制系統就故障，造成飛彈激烈的震動，只好立刻摧毀。試驗也因此結束。
The second missile was tested on December 19, 1958 also guided by a pre-programmed autopilot. This time the results were much better, with a launch taking place at Mach 1.6. A maximum speed of Mach 6 was reached, and a total range of 185 miles was achieved. A third launch, which took place on June 4, 1959, was the first one where the inertial guidance system was used. This launch was also successful, and a maximum altitude of 32 miles was achieved.
第二枚試射在1958年12月19日，同樣使用預置自動駕駛導引。結果比第一次好得多，在母機1.6馬赫時發射，飛彈速度最高達到馬赫6，總射程達到185英哩。1959年6月4日第三次試射成功， 首次使用慣性導航系統。彈道最高達到32英哩。
The fourth and last launch was reserved for a different purpose. Lockheed modified the last ALBM to be significantly lighter than its three predecessors, and equipped it with a longer nose which contained 13 cameras which would be used to photograph an orbiting satellite. The object of the test was to see if it were possible to intercept and destroy an orbiting earth satellite. The missile was given the name King Lofus IV. The target of the King Lofus IV launch was to be the Explorer IV satellite. However, shortly before the launch it was found that Explorer IV's orbital parameters were inaccurately known, and the target was located over New Orleans instead of the Florida Missile Test Range. The target was changed to the newly-launched Explorer V. The launch took place on September 22, 1959, with the launching B-58 flying at an altitude of 37,500 feet and a speed of Mach 2. The launch went smoothly enough, but 30 seconds later all contact with the missile was lost. The official report was "It is not known what happened to the missile, and how close it got to Explorer V. " We could see the B-58 contrail and the sharp pull up and missile firing.
第四枚飛彈就很不一樣。洛克希德修改了這最後一枚飛彈，使它比前面三枚都輕，鼻錐加長，內裝13個相機，用來拍攝軌道中的衛星，目標就是檢驗是否可能攔截並摧毀衛星。飛彈取名為King Lofus IV，原定要拍攝探險者4號衛星，不過在發射前不久才發現弄錯了衛星的軌道參數，測試時它會在紐奧良上空而不靠近佛羅里達飛彈測試場，於是目標改為探險者5號。飛彈在1959年9月22日試射，發射時B-58發射母機在38,500呎高度以馬赫2飛行。發射相當順利，但跟飛彈的通訊只維持了30秒就通通失去了。官方報告說：「不知道飛彈出了什麼事，也不知道它跟探險者5號靠到多近。」至少我們可以看到B-58的凝結尾，大角度爬升，然後發射飛彈。
High Virgo是美空軍WS-199開發計畫（彼時計畫都有個WS編號，Weapon System也）的一部份，如前所述它的WS編號是WS-199C，計畫內還有WS-199B Bold Orion（ALBM，Martin設計建造，B-47發射）與WS-199D Alpha Draco（麥克唐納建造，垂直發射，試驗重返彈頭）等兩種飛彈。WS-199C不如WS-199B成功，後者試射12次，後期修改為兩節火箭，成功測試過衛星攔截能力，所得經驗並轉用於WS-138計畫，後來並開發出AGM-48 (GAM-87) Skybolt飛彈。不幸Skybolt飛彈開發也不很順利，而且迅即被進入成熟階段的北極星SLBM（潛射彈道飛彈）和義勇兵ICBM排擠，沒有服役就取消。整個ALBM構想最後只成為冷戰的一頁註腳。
Nov 24 2012
Nov 24 2012
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