Historic Spacecraft Historic Spacecraft Logo

Miscellaneous American Rockets and Missiles

Vanguard

Vanguard rocket illustration.

Vanguard Rocket

Vanguard was an American three stage satellite launcher developed in the late 1950's.

In December 1957, a Vanguard was used for the first American orbital launch attempt. The rocket reached a height of approximately a meter before falling back onto the pad and exploding.

A total of 11 launches were attempted between 1957 and 1959. Eight of the launch attempts failed, while three would successfully orbit satellites.

Vanguard Rocket on Display at the National Air and Space Museum

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Vanguard rocket. Vanguard rocket. Vanguard rocket. Vanguard rocket. Vanguard rocket. Vanguard rocket. Vanguard rocket. Vanguard rocket. Vanguard rocket. Vanguard rocket.

Scout

Scout rocket illustration.

Scout Rocket

Scout was an American, all solid fueled, four stage satellite launch vehicle. Scout launchers operated between 1960 and 1994

Scout rocket stages.
Stages of the Scout Rocket

Scout D Rocket on Display at the National Air and Space Museum

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Scout rocket. Scout rocket. Scout rocket.

Athena

The Athena rocket was developed by Lockheed Martin in the 1990's. Seven Athena rockets were launched between 1995 and 2001. Five launches were successful, while two failed.

Upgraded versions, known as Athena IC and Athena IIC, are currently being marketed.

For more information, visit the Lockheed Martin website.

Athena I rocket illustration.

Athena I

Athena I consisted of a Castor-120 first stage, an ORBUS 21D second stage, and an Orbit Adjustment Module (OAM). Athena I first flew in 1995.

Athena I rocket stages.
Athena I Rocket Stages
Athena II rocket illustration.

Athena II

Athena II consisted of a Castor-120 first stage, another Castor-120 as second stage, an ORBUS 21D for the third stage, and an Orbit Adjustment Module (OAM).

An Athena II rocket, with an additional upper-stage, launched the successful Lunar Prospector spacecraft in 1998.

Athena II rocket stages.
Athena II Rocket Stages (Baseline Configuration)

Minuteman Missile

Minuteman I ICBM

Minuteman I on display at the Air Force Space and Missile Museum. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

Minuteman I Missile Minuteman I Missile side view Minuteman I Missile Minuteman I Missile nosecone Minuteman I Missile

Minuteman III ICBM

Minuteman III on display at the National Air and Space Museum. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Minuteman III Missile Minuteman III Missile first stage Minuteman III Missile interstage Minuteman III Missile Minuteman III Missile first stage Looking up at Minuteman III Missile Minuteman III first and second stage Minuteman III Missile

Polaris Missile

Polaris SLBM

Polaris SLBM (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile) on display at the Air Force Space and Missile Museum. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

Polaris SLBM Missile Polaris SLBM Missile Polaris SLBM Missile Polaris SLBM Missile

Poseidon Missile

Poseidon C-3 SLBM

Poseidon SLBM (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile) on display at the Udvar-Hazy center. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

Poseidon Missile Nosecone Poseidon SLBM Missile Poseidon second stage Poseidon missile interstage Poseidon SLBM Missile Poseidon missle first stage Poseidon SLBM rocket engine

Pershing-II Missile

The Pershing-II was an American Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) deployed in West Germany during the mid 1980's.

Pershing-II Missile and Trailer

Pershing-II Missile on display at the Air Force Space and Missile Museum. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

Pershing 2 missile and trailer Pershing 2 missile and trailer Pershing 2 missile and trailer

Pershing-II Missile

Pershing-II Missile on display at the National Air and Space Museum. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

Pershing-II IRBM Pershing-II IRBM Pershing-II IRBM Pershing-II IRBM Pershing-II IRBM Pershing-II IRBM Pershing-II IRBM
Creative Commons License Images by Richard Kruse are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.

Historic Spacecraft Store