Rohini (rocket family)

Rohini is a series of sounding rockets developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)[1] for meteorological and atmospheric study.

These sounding rockets are capable of carrying payloads of 2 to 200 kilograms (4.4 to 440.9 lb) between altitudes of 100 to 500 kilometres (62 to 311 mi).

Various programs such as Equatorial ElectroJet (EEJ), Leonid Meteor Shower (LMS), Indian Middle Atmosphere Programme (IMAP), Monsoon Experiment (MONEX), Middle Atmosphere Dynamics (MIDAS), and Sooryagrahan-2010 have been conducted using the Rohini sounding rocket series.

It has been the forerunners for ISRO's heavier and more complex launch vehicles, with continued usage even today for atmospheric and meteorological experiment and research.

[3] The RH-75,[4] the first sounding rocket developed by India,[5][6] It weighed 32 kilograms (71 lb), had a diameter of 75 millimetres (3.0 in) and flew 15 times between November 1967 and September 1968.

When paired with a 650mm long by 40mm wide copper shaft dart used for meteorological research, it was referred to as a Menaka-I rocket.

It was a single-stage rocket using a solid propellant,[7] carrying a 7 kilograms (15 lb) payload to 19 kilometres (12 mi) in altitude.

On 23rd July 2024, ISRO successfully launched world's first air breathing rocket which is a modified version of RH-560.