National Affairs: THE U.S. MISSILE PROGRAM

A Sturdy Base for a New Drive into Space

The fact that the U.S. is behind the Soviets in the production of long-range missiles has been heralded in headline and oratory. Frequently ignored is another fact: the Russians began an all-out missile program after World War II; the U.S. not until 1953-54. Considering its late start—a lapse in both Truman and Eisenhower administrations—the U.S., with 38 missile programs under way, has made progress at a remarkable rate, has the capacity to go much faster once the Pentagon gives real direction. How the program stands:

Intercontinental Missiles

Neither the U.S. nor the U.S.S.R. has an operational intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), nor will either have one for two to three years. To date, the Russians are known to have test-fired as many as five ICBMs, have scored at least one hit on a target at a 3,400-mile range; the U.S. has test-fired four models of the Air Force's Convair ICBM Atlas, has scored two hits at a programed initial 500-to 600-mile range. Atlas, U.S. missilery's prime weapon (cost: about $4,000,000 apiece) is fueled with a mixture of liquid oxygen and kerosene, is designed to deliver a hydrogen warhead of megaton dimensions at a speed of about 14,000 m.p.h. to a target five miles in diameter at a 5,500-mile range. Atlas has 300,000 parts, is so thin-skinned that it must be pressurized to stand upright; its three engines, simultaneously ignited on the ground, can generate a total thrust of between 300,000 and 400,000 lbs., or roughly what it took the Soviets to put up Sputnik II; its snub nose cone is designed to withstand the intense heat of reentry into the earth's atmosphere. Because Atlas got a later start than its Russian opposite number, its single-stage design is more modern, more foolproof than the ponderous three-stage Russian ICBM.

The Air Force hopes Atlas will be test-fired to its full 5,500-mile range this year. Even though testing will not be completed until 1960-61, an Atlas pilot production line is already running at Convair, can be turned on to full quantity when called for.

The Air Force has a "backup," or reserve ICBM, the Martin Titan, currently running twelve to 14 months behind Atlas. Titan is a two-stage, liquid-fuel missile with an Atlas-type nose cone and an Atlas-sized engine thrust that can power a hydrogen warhead more than 5,500 miles. Another advantage: Titan can be broken down into two parts for easier ground or air-cargo transportation. Titan has undergone static tests of its component parts, has not yet been tested as a complete weapons system, is not expected to reach test-flight status until fall.

Until the ICBMs are ready, the Air Force must depend upon its manned thermonuclear bombers reinforced by its only near-operational intercontinental guided missile, the Northrop Snark, an air-breathing, star-guided, 600-m.p.h. missile that can take a hydrogen warhead 5,000 miles to target or deploy electronic countermeasures over an enemy heartland to lure defenders away from main bomber strikes elsewhere.

Intermediate Missiles