Atlas ICBM WIP
So far I've built two missile systems for the Cold War collaboration at BFVA (a Soviet SS-20 Saber and a US GLCM TEL), but feel the collection wouldn't be compete without at least one proper intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). On their own, such missiles tend to not look all that interesting> I picked an Atlas, however, which was the United States' first. This is a fairly interesting beast, with a shape that is just a bit more complicated than a cylinder with a cone on top.
It's also a prime example use against people who believe ICBMs and space launchers are fundamentally different, usually in relation to the North Korean and Iranian space programs. They're not. The optimisation is a little different (it's advantageous for a ballistic missile to accelerate quickly, whereas a space launcher benefits from having a longer burn), but there is no fundamental reason why a booster that can lift an object into orbit wouldn't be capable of lobbing a slightly heavier object over intercontinental distances. John Glenn was launched into orbit in a Mercury capsule that sat on top of an Atlas, as were subsequent Mercury Astronauts and retired Atlas ICBMs had a long and successful career as space launchers. The final refurbished Atlas ICBM repurposed as a space launch vehicle and fitted with a second stage, put a weather satellite in orbit in 1995, more than 30 years after the type's first flight.
The last operational Atlas ICBM variant was the SM-65F. Such missiles were housed in underground silos, topped by heavy doors. Nowadays, ICBMs can be launched from inside their silos, but the Atlas and its launch platform were first raised to ground level. My display for Brickfair will include the platform, the silo doors and at least part of the top of the launch silo and the surrounding pad.
Atlas ICBM WIP
So far I've built two missile systems for the Cold War collaboration at BFVA (a Soviet SS-20 Saber and a US GLCM TEL), but feel the collection wouldn't be compete without at least one proper intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). On their own, such missiles tend to not look all that interesting> I picked an Atlas, however, which was the United States' first. This is a fairly interesting beast, with a shape that is just a bit more complicated than a cylinder with a cone on top.
It's also a prime example use against people who believe ICBMs and space launchers are fundamentally different, usually in relation to the North Korean and Iranian space programs. They're not. The optimisation is a little different (it's advantageous for a ballistic missile to accelerate quickly, whereas a space launcher benefits from having a longer burn), but there is no fundamental reason why a booster that can lift an object into orbit wouldn't be capable of lobbing a slightly heavier object over intercontinental distances. John Glenn was launched into orbit in a Mercury capsule that sat on top of an Atlas, as were subsequent Mercury Astronauts and retired Atlas ICBMs had a long and successful career as space launchers. The final refurbished Atlas ICBM repurposed as a space launch vehicle and fitted with a second stage, put a weather satellite in orbit in 1995, more than 30 years after the type's first flight.
The last operational Atlas ICBM variant was the SM-65F. Such missiles were housed in underground silos, topped by heavy doors. Nowadays, ICBMs can be launched from inside their silos, but the Atlas and its launch platform were first raised to ground level. My display for Brickfair will include the platform, the silo doors and at least part of the top of the launch silo and the surrounding pad.