| astronautix.com | Polaris A-1 |
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| Polaris A-1 - Credit: Lockheed-Martin. 9,203 bytes. 127 x 405 pixels. |
The only US test of an operational ballistic missile with a live 600 kiloton warhead. A Polaris A2 missile was launched from the ballistic missile submarine Ethan Allen (SSBN-608) 2800 km east-northeast of Christmas Island. The re-entry vehicle reached the target zone 1890 km away and detonated at 3,300 m. The resulting mushroom cloud was observed by the submarines Carbonero (SS-337) and Medregal (SS-480), both stationed within 25 km of the predicted impact point.
![]() | SSBN at sea Credit: Lockheed-Martin. 25,546 bytes. 403 x 299 pixels. |