NASA's first solid-fuel rocket. A series of Scout rockets was launched during the period 1960 to 1993, carrying a total of 92 satellites into orbit for NASA, the US Air Force, the US Navy, and several other nations. Scout rockets also made 19 sub-orbital flights to investigate potential problems for crewed spacecraft, such as re-entry heat and radio blackouts.

The four-stage Scout was approximately 23 m long, with a launch weight of 21 329 kg. It was assembled with payloads in a horizontal position, a feature that distinguished it from the larger expendable rockets subsequently built by NASA.