# SPARK

> American expendable launch system

**Wikidata**: [Q2654744](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2654744)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPARK_(rocket))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/spark-q2654744

## Summary
SPARK (Spaceborne Payload Assist Rocket - Kauai), also known as Super Strypi, is an American expendable launch system designed to propel payloads into orbit. It is a three-stage-to-orbit rocket model based on the Strypi rocket. The vehicle was developed through a collaboration involving the University of Hawaiʻi System, Sandia National Laboratories, and Aerojet Rocketdyne.

## Key Facts
*   **Formal Name:** Spaceborne Payload Assist Rocket - Kauai (SPARK).
*   **Alternate Name:** Super Strypi.
*   **Classification:** Expendable launch vehicle (rocket model); specifically a three-stage-to-orbit system.
*   **Origin:** United States.
*   **Base Design:** Derived from the Strypi rocket.
*   **Manufacturers:** University of Hawaiʻi System, Sandia National Laboratories, and Aerojet Rocketdyne.
*   **Parent Class:** Space launch vehicle that is expended after use.
*   **Commons Category:** Super Strypi.

## FAQs
### Q: What does the acronym SPARK stand for?
A: SPARK stands for **Spaceborne Payload Assist Rocket - Kauai**. It is also frequently referred to by its alias, Super Strypi.

### Q: What type of rocket is SPARK?
A: It is a three-stage-to-orbit expendable launch vehicle. This means it uses three distinct rocket stages to reach orbit and is designed for one-time use, being discarded after its mission.

### Q: Who is responsible for building the SPARK rocket?
A: The rocket is a collaborative project manufactured by the **University of Hawaiʻi System**, **Sandia National Laboratories**, and **Aerojet Rocketdyne**.

## Why It Matters
SPARK represents a unique approach to space launch capabilities by combining academic, governmental, and commercial expertise. Its development is significant because it utilizes a "three-stage-to-orbit" architecture based on the Strypi rocket, offering a specific solution for deploying payloads within the United States' space infrastructure.

The involvement of the **University of Hawaiʻi System** as a co-manufacturer highlights a notable instance of higher education institutions playing a direct role in the development of orbital-class launch vehicles, rather than solely focusing on payload creation. Simultaneously, the participation of **Sandia National Laboratories** (a major US national laboratory) and **Aerojet Rocketdyne** (a prominent aerospace manufacturer) ensures the system leverages high-level defense and engineering expertise. As an expendable launch system, SPARK fits into the segment of the aerospace market dedicated to cost-effective, dedicated launches for smaller payloads, distinct from larger, reusable heavy-lift rockets.

## Notable For
*   **University-Led Manufacturing:** Distinguished by having the University of Hawaiʻi System listed as a primary manufacturer alongside major defense contractors.
*   **Three-Stage Architecture:** Utilizes a three-stage-to-orbit configuration, a design choice used to maximize efficiency for reaching orbit.
*   **Lineage:** Directly based on the Strypi rocket, adapting earlier technology for modern space launch requirements.
*   **Expendable Design:** Classified as an expendable launch vehicle, intended for single-use missions.

## Body
### Development and Manufacturing
The SPARK rocket was developed as an American expendable launch system. The manufacturing consortium is composed of three key entities:
*   **University of Hawaiʻi System:** A college and university system established in 1907 and headquartered in Honolulu.
*   **Sandia National Laboratories:** A major United States national laboratory based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, established in 1949.
*   **Aerojet Rocketdyne:** A prominent aerospace and defense manufacturer.

### Technical Specifications
SPARK is classified as a **rocket model** and falls under the broader category of **expendable launch vehicles**. Technically, it is a **three-stage-to-orbit** vehicle, meaning it relies on three separate propulsion phases to achieve orbital insertion. The design is directly **based on the Strypi** rocket family.

### Nomenclature and Identity
The system is officially identified by the acronym **SPARK**, which expands to **Spaceborne Payload Assist Rocket - Kauai**. It is frequently referred to by the alias **Super Strypi**. In media repositories, such as Wikimedia Commons, it is categorized specifically under "Super Strypi." The system is of **United States** origin.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013