Topic: Do you have a need for speed? How about Mach 3.65!

[Ken (OP)]

While doing some research on the net I ran across some info that reminded me of a little thing that I did back in the 60's and though that you might find it interesting.
You see, GrandPa worked in one of those places that didn't exist. (at that time)
But of course in this modern age of ours you can find just about everything on the net.  :2cool!!

Here's a couple of pics and a few links.
Oh... and just in case you're thinking something like, "Ho Hum, oh well"...
This was the real deal in it's day and if we would have had to use these bad boys it's more than likely that the State of California would no longer exist and you would never have met GPa.





Specifications

Missile Nike Hercules

Length 12.53 m overall 8.18 m second stage

Diameter 0.80 m booster 0.53 m second stage

Fin span 3.50 m booster 1.88 m second stage

Mass 4850 kg at launch 2505 kg second stage

Max speed Mach 3.65 (ca. 4 470 km/h)

Range 140 km

Ceiling 45,700 m

First stage Hercules M42 solid-fueled rocket cluster (4x M5E1 Nike boosters) 978 kN (220,000 lbf) total

Second stage Thiokol M30 solid-fueled rocket 44.4 kN (10,000 lbf)

Warhead nuclear W31 nuclear 2 kt (M-97) 20 kt (M-22) 40 kt (M-23)


And what was my job? I worked in the computer, yep that's right... not at the computer, not on the computer but in the computer. 





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_Hercules

A great deal of good info can be found HERE.

[james3]

Those are some awesome photos!

I love the History channel and all things military. Your involvement is a great link to all that information.  :bigtmb:

[Ken (OP)]

Glad you liked it son, it was very interesting time and experience to say the least.  :bigtmb: