Athena

Athena. . This research missile was used to test Intercontinental Ballistic Missile re-entry vehicles (RVs). Athena simulated the trajectories of intercontinental missiles., Athena was a multi-stage solid-fueled rocket. It could be flown with two, three or four solid-propellant rocket stages depending on the test requirement., Launched from the Army's Utah Launch Complex at Green River, the missile reached altitudes up to 200 miles before descending to impact on White Sands Missile Range, some 470 miles away. With a flight lasting only four minutes and going to a maximum distance of about 470 miles, Athena could realistically simulate a 25-minute ICBM mission across 5000 miles., In a typical mission, the first two stages provided the "brute force" required to put the final two stages and the re-entry payload on a ballistic return course to Earth. But instead of following a simple ballistic re-entry path, after the first two stages burned and separated, Athena was tipped over. The final two stages and the payload were aimed back toward Earth and into the test environment by a control system of gyro-sensors and reaction jets. The payload was driven back into the atmosphere at velocities of 22,500 feet per second. After burnout of the third and fourth stage motors, the re-entry shape or payload was ejected and landed on WSMR., The US Air Force launched more than 140 Athenas between 1964 and March 1977, all impacting on White Sands Missile Range. Athena tested re-entry technology for the Titan, Minuteman, Polaris and Poseidon missiles., Length: 50 feet , Diameter: 31 inches , Weight: 16,000 pounds , Propellant: Solid , Range: 450 miles , First Firing from Green River: 1964