US Air Force SM-65 Atlas-F ICBM - US Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL
N 34° 42.616 W 086° 39.263
16S E 531648 N 3840968
A US Air Force SM-65 Atlas-F Intercontinental Ballistic Missile on static display outside of the Main Exhibit Building at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville AL
Waymark Code: WMWXWH
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 10/27/2017
Views: 1
There are dozens of rockets, missiles, missile launchers, and other aircraft on static display outside of the Main Exhibit Building at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL.
The waymarked Atlas-F ICBM is located near the Redstone Rockets and the Juno I.
An interpretive sign reads as follows:
"U.S. AIR FORCE SM-65 ATLAS-F
The Atlas rocket was America’s first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Was first successfully launched in December, 1955. Originally a weapons delivery system, the Atlas D was selected by NASA to be the rocket to send American astronauts into Earth orbit. It was used on all orbital mercury emissions from Jon Glenn’s flight, Mercury- Atlas 6 (MA-6) onward. Scott Carpenter (MA-7), Walter Schirra (MA-8) and Gordon Cooper (MA-9) all flew atop this unique booster. After the Mercury program, NASA continue to use the Atlas to launch spacecraft such as the Gemini Agena Target Vehicle, Mariner and Pioneer space probes.
This Atlas-F rocket, slightly more powerful than the series D, is nearly identical in structure. It has a stainless steel skin that is extremely thin and lightweight, but fragile. It had to stay pressurized or collapsed under its own weight. It was also a “stage in a half” rocket. In order to save weight and maintain power when needed, the 2 outer engines in a portion of the aft section would separate the rocket. This shed unneeded weight but left the tanks intact and the center engine still burning.
Length: 71.2 ft (21.7 m) without payload
Diameter: 10 ft (3 m)
Width: 16 ft (4.9 m)
Weight: 267,136 lbs (121,171 kg)
Thrust: 387,000 lbs (1,721,463N)
*165,000 lbs per booster (x 2)
*57,000 lbs sustainer
Propellants: Liquid oxygen and RP-1 kerosene
Contractors: Convair Corporation/General Dynamics (fuselage)
Rocketdyne Div., North American Aviation (propulsion)"
Type of Aircraft: (make/model): US Air Force SM-65 Atlas-F ICBM
Construction:: original aircraft
Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): US Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville AL
inside / outside: outside
Access restrictions:
Open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Tail Number: (S/N): Not listed
Other Information:: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)
Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.