Word: icbms
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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MISSILES: Asked about the report from Minnesota's Democratic Senator Hubert Humphrey that the Russians have developed an 8,700-mile missile (see Democrats), the President replied: "I would know no reason whatsoever why this could not be done. We have also tested successfully an ICBM of sufficient range...
Achievement of such a range would surpass the best ICBM effort so far--the Atlas which the Air Force hurled 6,325 miles on Nov. 28. It also would put almost all the United States within reach of Soviet weapons...
...with close to 370,000 lbs. of thrust, the 80-ft. beast leaped from its Cape Canaveral pad, rocketed off the Florida coast into the starry night and arched serenely over the moon. The Cape's missile watchers held their breath as, in shucking its booster motors, the ICBM blazed like a meteor 200 miles from earth; then it faded and seemed to hang for a long time, suspended, like a star-colored point, just below Orion...
...Force stuck stubbornly to a schedule that was programed for maximum effort long before Sputnik. Atlas will need many more tests-and particularly refinement of its guidance system-before it is a real operational weapon. But if, as they claim, the Russians have already fired an ICBM (3,500 miles, according to U.S. intelligence guesses), the successful full-range Atlas flight makes it clear that Russia has no monopoly. It also makes clear that the U.S. missile program, already equipped with the first operational intermediate-range missiles, is coming and coming fast...
...lands major new defense orders. Navy cut orders of Martin Sea Master jet seaplanes from 24 to 14 (saving: $60 million to $70 million). Also, Martin is prime contractor for Vanguard and Titan missiles, which may be scrubbed. Vanguard has performed below expectations; Titan was intended to backstop Atlas ICBM, which is doing splendidly...