Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
U.S. Army PGM-11 Redstone
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 20, 2016
1. U. S. Army PGM-11 Redstone Marker
The historic launch of Mercury-Redstone 3, carring Alan Shepard into suborbital spaceflight.
MR-1 as the Launch Escape Tower ignited after the rocket settled back onto the pad.
First test-launched in August, 1953, the Redstone Medium-Range Ballistic Missile evolved from a five-year Army research and development program. Named for Redstone Arsenal—where it was developed—this vehicle played a crucial role in the U. S.'s defense capability. The Redstone was a mobile missile that could be launched on the battlefield by combat-ready soldiers. In June, 1958, the Redstone was put into service with U. S. Army units stationed in Germany. Because of its proven reliability, the Redstone rocket fulfilled a number of additional roles.
In January, 1958, a modified Redstone (renamed Juno I) launched the first U. S. satellite (Explorer I) into Earth orbit. By 1960, NASA had modified the vehicle for launching American's first manned spacecraft (Project Mercury).
This Redstone missile was used to train soldier on its operation during the Redstone Mechanical Material Maintenance Course at Redstone Arsenal.
Length: 69.3ft (21.1m)
Diameter: 5.8ft (1.8m)
Finspan: 12ft (3.7m)
Weight: 61, 300lbs (27,805kg)
Thrust: 78,000lbs (346,961N)
Velocity: 3,800mph (6,116km/hr)
Range: 200mi (322km)
Propellants: Liquid oxygen and ethyl alcohol
Contractors:
Chrysler Corporation for the U. S. Ordnance Guided Missile Center
Topics. This historical
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Location. 34° 42.62′ N, 86° 39.258′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County. It can be reached from Tranquiltiy Base half a mile west of Madison Pike, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Tranquilty Base, Huntsville AL 35805, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: NASA / U.S. Geological Survey (here, next to this marker); U.S. Army/NASA Juno II (a few steps from this marker); U.S. Air Force SM-65 Atlas-F (a few steps from this marker); NASA Saturn I (within shouting distance of this marker); NASA Lunar Module (LM) (within shouting distance of this marker); Cosmic Apple Tree (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); CH-47D Chinook Helicopter (about 300 feet away); Colbert Fossil Plant (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.
Also see . . . U.S. Space & Rocket Center. (Submitted on September 27, 2016.)
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 20, 2016
2. U. S. Army PGM-11 Redstone Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 16, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2016, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 901 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 26, 2016, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
