page_title: Byron Lavoy Cockrell
section_title: Vought Systems Division, Dallas, Texas
hierarchical_section_title: Byron Lavoy Cockrell / Career / Vought Systems Division, Dallas, Texas
context_page_description: Byron Lavoy Cockrell was an American rocket scientist and engineer who conducted research and development of micro-motors for solid propellant rockets and was later involved in the Minuteman ICBM program.
context_section_description: In 1972, Vought Aeronautics and Vought Missiles and Space were combined into Vought Systems. While working for Vought Systems in Texas, Cockrell conducted design and analysis to define a detailed configuration capable of meeting the stringent performance, structural, and mass properties requirements set forth in their new government contract. Cockrell and team delivered 25 successful heavywall motor tests, and 31 successful flight motor tests. The work culminated in the fabrication of a complete prototype.
  Cockrell's expertise also served Vought Systems when they became the prime contractor for the development of the Scout launch vehicle which were to place small satellites into orbit around the Earth. Scout, an acronym for Solid Controlled Orbital Utility Test system, was a four-stage solid fuel satellite system capable of launching a 385-pound satellite into a 500-mile orbit. Since 1976, its launch success rate was 100 percent and included 23 satellites launched for the international space organizations.
  Much of his work in Texas remains classified. However, because of his expertise and time frame; Cockrell was more than likely involved in the Army's Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) program. Vought was awarded a contract to conduct design and trade-off analysis and system optimization of the MLRS in 1976. One year later, the MLRS design was complete and production began in 1980.
caption: The M270 MLRS conducts a rocket launch.
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