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PGM-11 Redstone facts for kids

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The PGM-11 Redstone was the first big ballistic missile built by the United States. It was a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), meaning it could travel shorter distances. The United States Army used it in West Germany from 1958 to 1964. It was an important part of NATO's defense during the Cold War. The Redstone was also the first U.S. missile to carry a real nuclear weapon during a test in 1958.

The Redstone missile was inspired by the German V-2 rocket. It was mainly developed by German rocket scientists who came to the U.S. after World War II. The missile used a powerful engine from Rocketdyne. This allowed it to carry the W39 warhead, which weighed about 6,900 pounds (3,130 kg), up to 175 miles (282 km). The main company that built the Redstone was Chrysler Corporation.

The Redstone missile led to the Redstone rocket family. These rockets achieved many "firsts" in the U.S. space program. For example, a Redstone rocket launched the first American astronaut into space! The Army stopped using the Redstone in 1964. It was replaced by the solid-fueled MGM-31 Pershing missile. Many leftover Redstone missiles were used for test flights and space launches. In 1967, one even launched Australia's first satellite.

Quick facts for kids
SSM-A-14/M8/PGM-11 Redstone
Redstone 09.jpg
Redstone No. CC-56, Cape Canaveral, Florida, 17 September 1958
Type
  • Tactical ballistic missile
  • short-range ballistic missile
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1958–1964
Used by United States
Production history
Designer Army Ballistic Missile Agency
Designed 1950–1952
Manufacturer Chrysler Corporation
Produced 1952–1961
No. built
  • 128 (ABMA: 27, Chrysler: 101)
  • (85 production models)
Variants Block I, Block II
Specifications
Mass 61,207 pounds (27,763 kg) at ignition
Length 69.3 feet (21.1 m)
Diameter 5.83 feet (1.8 m)
Blast yield W39 warhead, 3.8 megatons of TNT (16 PJ)
Engine Rocketdyne North American Aviation 75–110 A-7
78,000 pounds-force (350 kN) thrust at sea level for 121 seconds
Payload capacity 6,305 pounds (2,860 kg)
Propellant
  • ethyl alcohol
  • liquid oxygen
Fuel capacity
  • alcohol: 11,135 pounds (5,051 kg)
  • liquid oxygen: 25,280 pounds (11,470 kg)
  • hydrogen peroxide: 790 pounds (360 kg)
Operational
range
 57.5 to 201 miles
92.5 to 323.5 kilometres
Flight altitude 28.4 to 58.7 miles
45.7 to 94.5 kilometres
Boost time 97 seconds to 117 seconds
Maximum speed Mach 5 – Mach 6 (6,100–7,400 km/h; 3,800–4,600 mph; 1.7–2.0 km/s) maximum at re-entry interface
Guidance
system
 Ford Instrument Company ST-80 inertial guidance
Steering
system
 Carbon jet vanes, air rudders, spatial air jet nozzles, air vanes
Accuracy 300 metres (980 ft) CEP
Launch
platform
 guided missile platform launcher M74

Developing the Redstone Missile

PGM-11 Redstone CC-1004
US Army field group erecting Redstone missile

The Redstone missile was directly related to the German V-2 rocket. This rocket was developed by Wernher von Braun and his team of German rocket engineers. They were brought to the United States after World War II as part of Operation Paperclip.

The Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) designed the Redstone. This happened at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. It was meant to be a surface-to-surface missile for the U.S. Army. The missile was named after the arsenal on April 8, 1952. The arsenal got its name from the area's red rocks and soil.

First Flights and Challenges

The first Redstone missile launched from Cape Canaveral on August 20, 1953. It flew for 80 seconds before its engine failed and it fell into the sea. The second test flight on January 27, 1954, went perfectly. The missile flew 55 miles (88.5 km) without any problems. After these first two tests, engineers improved the engine to fix issues.

The third Redstone flight on May 5 was a complete failure. The engine stopped just one second after launch. The rocket fell back onto the launch pad and exploded. After this, Major General Holger Toftoy asked Wernher von Braun why it failed. Von Braun said they didn't know yet but would study the data.

Von Braun pushed his team to make the missiles more reliable. He reportedly said, "Missile reliability will require that the target area is more dangerous than the launch area." Later test flights went much better. The Army announced the Redstone was ready for use in mid-1955. Testing then moved to larger launch pads.

End of Service

The Redstone program caused some disagreements between the Army and Air Force. They had different ideas about how to use nuclear weapons. The Army wanted smaller warheads on mobile missiles for battlefield use. The Air Force wanted large missiles that could strike targets far away.

Newer, solid-fueled missiles came along that were easier to store and launch. This made the Redstone missile outdated. Production of the Redstone ended in 1961. The Army officially stopped using the Redstone missile in 1964. It was replaced by the MGM-31 Pershing missile. All Redstone missiles in Europe were sent back to the U.S. by late 1964. In October 1964, the Redstone missile was officially retired.

How the Redstone Missile Worked

The Redstone missile could fly between 57.5 miles (92.5 km) and 201 miles (323 km). It had two main parts: a thrust unit for powered flight and a missile body for guiding the payload to the target.

During its powered flight, the Redstone burned a fuel mixture. This mixture was 75% ethyl alcohol and 25% water. It used liquid oxygen (LOX) as an oxidizer to help it burn. Later Redstones used a different fuel called Hydyne.

The missile body held the instrument compartment and the warhead. The warhead carried the payload. The missile body separated from the thrust unit about 20 to 30 seconds after the engine stopped. This timing depended on how far the target was. The missile body then continued on its path to the target. The thrust unit fell separately, landing before the target.

The nuclear-armed Redstone carried the W39 warhead. This warhead had a powerful yield of 3.8 megatons.

Building the Redstone

Chrysler Corporation was given the main contract to produce the Redstone. They built it at a factory in Warren, Michigan. This factory was once used for jet engine production. After a jet engine program was canceled, Chrysler used the facility for missile production. They started making missiles and support equipment in 1952.

Other companies helped build the Redstone:

  • Rocketdyne made the rocket engines.
  • Ford Instrument Company produced the guidance and control systems.
  • Reynolds Metals Company built parts of the missile body.

Redstone Family of Rockets

Main article: Redstone (rocket family)

In 1955, the Jupiter-C rocket was developed. It was an improved version of the Redstone. It had longer fuel tanks for longer burn times. It also used a new fuel called hydyne. The Jupiter C, also known as the Juno 1, launched the first successful U.S. satellite, Explorer 1, into space in 1958.

The Mercury-Redstone Launch Vehicle was another version of the Redstone. Its fuel tank was made 6 feet (1.8 m) longer. On May 5, 1961, this rocket launched Alan Shepard. He became the second person and first American in space. This rocket kept the longer fuel tanks of the Jupiter C but went back to using ethyl alcohol and water as fuel.

From 1966 to 1967, modified Redstones called Spartas were launched from Australia. This was part of a research program between the U.S., UK, and Australia. They wanted to understand how objects re-enter Earth's atmosphere. These Redstones had two extra solid fuel stages added. The U.S. gave a spare Sparta rocket to Australia. It was used to launch WRESAT, Australia's first satellite, in November 1967.

Where to See Redstone Missiles Today

Many Redstone missiles are still on display in museums and parks. Here are some places where you can see them:

You can also see Jupiter-C rockets, which are Redstone derivatives, at:

Mercury-Redstone Launch Vehicles are on display at:

Gallery

  • Redstone msl 1 53 01

    Redstone early production (1953)

  • PGM-11 Redstone RS-1002

    Preparations on 16 May 1958 for the first Redstone launch on 17 May conducted by US Army troops. Battery A, 217th Field Artillery Missile Battalion, 40th Artillery Group (Redstone); Cape Canaveral, Florida; Launch Complex 5

  • Redstone trainer 08 60

    Redstone trainer missile practice firing exercise by US Army troops of Battery A, 1st Missile Battalion, 333rd Artillery, 40th Artillery Group (Redstone); Bad Kreuznach, West Germany; August 1960

  • Rocketdyne a-7

    Rocketdyne (NAA) 75-110-A-7 engine

  • 17 22 055 A7 engine

    A-7 engine on display

  • Redstone Missile

    Redstone rocket on display since 1971 at the Warren, New Hampshire Historical Society

  • National Museum of Nuclear Science & History Redstone Rocket

    National Museum of Nuclear Science & History display in Albuquerque, New Mexico

  • Redstone in Grand Central Station July 7 1957

    Redstone missile on display in Grand Central Terminal in New York, 7 July 1957

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: PGM-11 Redstone para niños

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