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This is a single ply of Sitka spruce wood used in the nine-ply sections that formed the nose fairing for the U.S. Navy's Poseidon C-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile. During the missile's launch, the nose fairing and nose cap at its tip protected the reentry vehicle and its nuclear warheads from air friction temperatures approaching 1000 degrees. Explosive devices blew the nose fairing off shortly after the missile entered space. Poseidon C-3s were deployed from 1971 into the early 1990s. Lockheed Missiles & Space Company made and donated this object to NASM.

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-Missile & Rocket Parts Manufacturer Lockheed Missiles and Space Co.
Dimensions Overall: 2ft 9in. x 3in. x 9/16in. (83.82 x 7.62 x 1.43cm)
Materials Plexiglas
Wood
Varnish
Foam
Adhesive
Ink
Inventory Number A19731668005 Credit Line Gift of Lockheed Missiles & Space Company Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.