PGM-11 Redstone Nuclear Missile
White Sands Missile Range Museum
Redstone was the Army's largest surface-to-surface ballistic missile. Modified Redstone rockets launched America's first satellite and first human into space. Developed by Wernher Von Braun, Redstone is a direct descendant of the German V-2 rocket.
As a field artillery missile, Redstone was designed to extend the firepower and range of conventional artillery cannon against ground targets. It could deliver a nuclear or high-explosive warhead to targets 200 miles away. In 1951, a nuclear warhead meant a 3-ton package. Since Redstone was a ballistic missile, its initial trajectory and guidance was provided by the launcher. Great care was taken to level the missile and to orient the stabilized platform accurately in the direction of the target.
Redstone's liquid-fueled engine burned alcohol and liquid oxygen, producing about 75,000 pounds of thrust. At burnout, or when the propellant was exhausted, it had a speed of 3,800 miles per hour (6,116 kilometers per hour). For guidance, Redstone had a totally new pure-inertial guidance system using air-bearing gyros. Beyond the earth's atmosphere the inertial guidance system directed it toward the target. After reaching the proper speed, the rocket engine cut out and dropped off, along with the fuel tanks. Then the guidance system and warhead coasted to the target.
As a field artillery missile, Redstone was mobile and transportable by plane, truck or train. However, when on the move, it needed a convoy eighteen miles long, with 200 vehicles carrying approximately 10,000 individual pieces of equipment and more than 600 men. The Redstone itself was carried on three trucks-its nose section (warhead) midsection (power plant and fuel tanks) and tail section- to be assembled in the field.
Named after Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, where it was developed and built, Redstone's development was triggered by outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 to counter Soviet Cold War threats. The first Redstone missile was launched on August 20, 1953 from the Army's missile test range at Cape Canaveral, Florida, and traveled 8,000 yards (7,315 meters). Thirty-six more were launched rough 1958, testing structure, engine performance, guidance and control, tracking and telemetry. On May 16, 1958, combat-ready soldiers fired their first Redstone rocket. It was put into U.S. Army service in Germany that June.
Redstone has been called the Model-T of the Free World's space program. A solid-fuel fourth stage was added to it and Redstone became the Jupiter-C rocket. On January 31, 1958, a Jupiter-C lifted America's first orbiting satellite, Explorer I, into space.
Starting in 1959, warhead some Redstone rockets were modified for NASA's Mercury program. Propellant tanks were elongated by 96 inches, adding 20 seconds of burn time. The section was replaced by the Mercury capsule and escape tower. The first of these Mercury Redstone rockets was tested at Cape Canaveral on December 19, 1960. On May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space when he was launched on a suborbital flight in a Mercury capsule by a Redstone rocket engine.
Between 1958 and 1962, eighteen Redstone missiles were fired at White Sands Missile Range. Pershing replaced Redstone beginning in 1960.
Length: 69 ft
Diameter: 70 in
Weight: 30 tons
Propellant: Liquid
Range: 200 miles
First Fired: 1958
PGM-11 Redstone Nuclear Missile
White Sands Missile Range Museum
Redstone was the Army's largest surface-to-surface ballistic missile. Modified Redstone rockets launched America's first satellite and first human into space. Developed by Wernher Von Braun, Redstone is a direct descendant of the German V-2 rocket.
As a field artillery missile, Redstone was designed to extend the firepower and range of conventional artillery cannon against ground targets. It could deliver a nuclear or high-explosive warhead to targets 200 miles away. In 1951, a nuclear warhead meant a 3-ton package. Since Redstone was a ballistic missile, its initial trajectory and guidance was provided by the launcher. Great care was taken to level the missile and to orient the stabilized platform accurately in the direction of the target.
Redstone's liquid-fueled engine burned alcohol and liquid oxygen, producing about 75,000 pounds of thrust. At burnout, or when the propellant was exhausted, it had a speed of 3,800 miles per hour (6,116 kilometers per hour). For guidance, Redstone had a totally new pure-inertial guidance system using air-bearing gyros. Beyond the earth's atmosphere the inertial guidance system directed it toward the target. After reaching the proper speed, the rocket engine cut out and dropped off, along with the fuel tanks. Then the guidance system and warhead coasted to the target.
As a field artillery missile, Redstone was mobile and transportable by plane, truck or train. However, when on the move, it needed a convoy eighteen miles long, with 200 vehicles carrying approximately 10,000 individual pieces of equipment and more than 600 men. The Redstone itself was carried on three trucks-its nose section (warhead) midsection (power plant and fuel tanks) and tail section- to be assembled in the field.
Named after Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, where it was developed and built, Redstone's development was triggered by outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 to counter Soviet Cold War threats. The first Redstone missile was launched on August 20, 1953 from the Army's missile test range at Cape Canaveral, Florida, and traveled 8,000 yards (7,315 meters). Thirty-six more were launched rough 1958, testing structure, engine performance, guidance and control, tracking and telemetry. On May 16, 1958, combat-ready soldiers fired their first Redstone rocket. It was put into U.S. Army service in Germany that June.
Redstone has been called the Model-T of the Free World's space program. A solid-fuel fourth stage was added to it and Redstone became the Jupiter-C rocket. On January 31, 1958, a Jupiter-C lifted America's first orbiting satellite, Explorer I, into space.
Starting in 1959, warhead some Redstone rockets were modified for NASA's Mercury program. Propellant tanks were elongated by 96 inches, adding 20 seconds of burn time. The section was replaced by the Mercury capsule and escape tower. The first of these Mercury Redstone rockets was tested at Cape Canaveral on December 19, 1960. On May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space when he was launched on a suborbital flight in a Mercury capsule by a Redstone rocket engine.
Between 1958 and 1962, eighteen Redstone missiles were fired at White Sands Missile Range. Pershing replaced Redstone beginning in 1960.
Length: 69 ft
Diameter: 70 in
Weight: 30 tons
Propellant: Liquid
Range: 200 miles
First Fired: 1958