Historic Spacecraft - Redstone Rockets and Missiles

Redstone Rockets

Based on German V-2 technology, the Redstone missile was the U. S. Army’s first medium range ballistic missile. Produced by Chrysler, the Redstone missile first flew in 1955. Production missiles were flying in 1956, with the first missiles reaching operational status in Germany during 1958. The Redstone had a short service life, being replaced by the Pershing missile by 1964. In total, Chrysler produces around 120 missiles.

Redstone missiles played an important role in the early years of the space race. Modified Redstone rocket technology flew as both Jupiter-C and Mercury-Redstone space launchers.

Redstone Family of Rockets
	Version	First Flight
1	Redstone TBM (Tactical Ballistic Missile)	1953
2	Juno 1 (Jupiter C)	1958
3	Mercury-Redstone	1961

Redstone Ballistic Missile

Redstone at the US Space and Rocket Center

Army Redstone Ballistic Missile at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

Redstone at the Air Force Space and Missile Museum

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

Jupiter-C

The Jupiter-C first flew in 1956. The Jupiter-C was comprised of a Redstone first stage combined with several solid rocket motors serving as upper stages. On 31JAN1958, Juno 1 (A Jupiter-C with an added 4th stage) launched America’s first successful Earth orbiting satellite, Explorer 1.

Jupiter-C at the US Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

Jupiter-C at the Kennedy Space Center Rocket Garden

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

Mercury-Redstone

The first successful Mercury-Redstone rocket flew on 19DEC1960. The rocket was used to launch Mercury capsules on suborbital trajectories into space. On 5MAY1961, a Mercury-Redstone launched America’s first astronaut, Alan Sheppard, into space. On 21JUL1961, another Mercury-Redstone launched Virgil Gus Grissom into space.