Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

This is part of an Atlas missile or rocket airframe that survived reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. It is not known what exact vehicle it came from or when or where it impacted. The Atlas was America's first intercontinental-range ballistic missile, deployed in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was then modified by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to launch the Project Mercury manned capsules into Earth orbit during 1961-1962. Beginning in the early 1960s, Atlas first stages were also mated with a variety of upper stages to launch numerous civilian and military payloads into space. Convair made the Atlas and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory transferred this fragment to NASM in 1971.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets Manufacturer Convair
 Dimensions 3-D: 198.1 × 110.5 × 46.4cm, 50.3kg (6 ft. 6 in. × 3 ft. 7 1/2 in. × 1 ft. 6 1/4 in., 111lb.)
 Materials HAZ MAT: Cadmium
White Metal Foil
Fiberglass
Aluminum Alloy
Ferrous Alloy
Unidentified White Material
 Inventory Number A19730741000 Credit Line Transferred from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.