The Redstone was one of the most historically important developments in U.S. rocket technology. It was the U.S.'s first large-scale operational liquid-propellant missile and, with modifcations, became the Jupiter-C that placed the U.S.'s first artificial satellite, Explorer 1, into orbit in 1958. In 1961, another version, called the Mercury-Redstone, launched the first American into space, Alan B. Shepard.
The Redstone missile had a range of 200-250 miles and carried either a conventional or nuclear warhead. It became operational in 1958 and was replaced by the all-solid fuel Pershing missile in 1964. This Redstone was transferred to the Smithsonian in 1980 from the NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.