This is a model of the Regulus I, a U.S. Navy surface-to-surface missile carried on and launched from the decks of submarines. It had a nuclear warhead, a solid-fuel engine, one booster for assist in take-off, a range of 400 miles, and a guidance system using radio commands from the submarine. The missile was deployed on a limited number of submarines during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.