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 a Mark 11 reentry vehicle nose cap, made by Avco. Mark 11s housed the single nuclear warhead on U.S. Air Force Minuteman I and II intercontinental ballistic missiles, which were deployed from the 1960s into the 1990s. This nose cap was flown on a Minuteman test flight from Vandenberg Air Force Base to Kwajalein on an unknown date. It had temperature sensors on the inner aluminum shell that were monitored during the flight. After its retrieval at Kwajalein, samples were taken from the outer ablative coating for laboratory testing.

Textron Systems donated this artifact to the Museum in 2004.

 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 Avco Corportation
 Dimensions Overall: 10in. x 1ft 5in. (25.4 x 43.18cm)
 Materials Silica Ablative
Phenolic Nylon
Ceramic
Anodized Aluminum
Steel
 Inventory Number A20050003000 Credit Line Gift of Textron Systems Corp. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.