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 Summary

The Atlas was the first intercontinental-range ballistic missile (ICBM) in the US nuclear arsenal. This collection consists of 120 black and white photographs showing various aspects of the construction of the Atlas missile installation at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas. In addition, the collection contains three pages of drawings showing typical equipment for launcher platforms and missile silos.

 Biographical / Historical

The Atlas was the first intercontinental-range ballistic missile (ICBM) in the US nuclear arsenal. Deployed beginning in August 1959, the Atlas was designed to carry a 1-megaton thermonuclear warhead to targets up to 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) away, using either radio-inertial or all-inertial guidance. The Atlas was also used as a booster to launch US manned Mercury capsules into orbit in the 1960s. In the early 1960s, an installation was built at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas as part of the Atlas Missile Project. Major Charles William Moore, USAF, was the project manager for the Site Activation Task Force and his unit received an award for completing the construction on time and under budget.

 Identifier

NASM.2010.0003

Date

1960-1961

Provenance

Jennifer Leigh, Gift, 2009, NASM.2010.0003

Extent

0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of 120 black and white photographs, ranging in size from 3.5 x 5 inches to 8 x 10 inches, showing various aspects of the construction of the Atlas missile installation at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas. All the photographs are marked with the date and some caption information. In addition, the collection contains three pages of drawings showing typical equipment for launcher platforms and missile silos.

Arrangement note

Collection is arranged by type of material.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Citation

Atlas Missile Project Site Construction Photographs, NASM.2010.0003, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Ballistic missiles

Astronautics

Atlas ICBM

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Drawings