M-100 (rocket)

The M-100 was a Soviet meteorological rocket developed and launched extensively throughout the latter half of the 20th century. It was designed to measure atmospheric parameters such as temperature, pressure, wind speed, and direction in the upper atmosphere, typically between altitudes of 10 kilometers and 90 kilometers.

The rocket employed a solid-propellant motor and carried a payload consisting of various meteorological instruments and a telemetry system for transmitting data back to ground stations. A parachute recovery system allowed for the retrieval of the payload after the flight, enabling the reuse of instrumentation.

The M-100 saw widespread use not only within the Soviet Union but also in international collaborative research programs. Its relatively low cost, reliability, and ease of operation made it a valuable tool for atmospheric scientists studying the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Improved versions, such as the M-100B, were subsequently developed. Data collected by the M-100 rocket contributed significantly to our understanding of atmospheric dynamics and composition. Its use has declined with the advent of more modern sounding rocket and satellite-based observation platforms.