Missile, Reentry Vehicle, Mark 4

Object Details

Manufacturer

Avco Corportation

Summary

This is an unflown Mark 4 reentry vehicle (RV) used on U.S. Air Force Titan I and Atlas E/F intercontinental ballistic missiles that were deployed in the early 1960s. It carried a W-38 nuclear warhead with a yield of about 3.75 megatons. Made by AVCO Corporation, the Mark 4 RV has an aluminum inner frame covered by an unknown ablative material that protected it during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. Because R&D versions of reentry vehicles were commonly painted white, this Mark 4 RV was in all likelihood a test version that was never flown. The donor is unknown.

Credit Line

Transferred from the United States Air Force

Inventory Number

A19660029000

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

CRAFT-Missile & Rocket Parts

Materials

Metal, unknown ablative material, and phenolic resin

Dimensions

Overall: 10 ft. 8 in. × 4 ft., 1571.7kg (325.1 × 121.9cm, 3465lb.)

Other (object without stand): 1111.3kg (2450lb.)

Country of Origin

United States of America

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

Location

National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC

Exhibition

Nation of Speed

National Air and Space Museum

Record ID

nasm_A19660029000

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv91815cbb1-c1cf-46a4-ba0d-aa2708819691