Herald and news., June 29, 1958, Page 43, Image 43

Missiles (Continued)
just like airplanes; others have only stabilizing fins;
some are steered by moving the engine (i.e., if the
exhaust is pointed in one direction, the reaction is
in the opposite direction). The control system does
the mechanical steering of the missile, but it's the
guidance system that tells it which way to steer.
How many kinds of guidance systems are there?
Four basic kinds: radar, homing, inertial, and
celestial.
1. Radar is a complicated electronics system
which, in simple terms, sends out radio signals that
bounce off an object and "echo" back. Timing of the
cycle automatically determines the object's loca
tion, speed, and direction. There are three kinds of
radar: command, beam, and homing.
In command radar, both the missile and its target
are tracked and the impact point computed. Com
mands are sent to the missile's control system to
keep it on course. In beam radar, a continuous signal
is aimed at the target and the missile rides down
bearings, tend to drift off course after extended
periods of time.
4. Celestial systems are guided by the stars. Op
tical instruments mounted in the missile are pointed
at known stars which, as far as the earth is con
cerned, are "fixed" in space. If the missile drifts off
course, the optics relay this information to the con
trol system. Celestial systems will probably guide
future space missiles because there is almost no
limit to their range.
How many kinds of payloads are there7
Two at present. In military missiles the payload,
of course, is an explosive warhead, in some cases an
atomic explosive. In experimental missiles, includ
ing the multistage satellite launchers, the payload
is a package of instruments which gather informa
tion for future launchings. Within a few years, a
third kind of payload will be launched man himself.
How many kinds of missiles are there?
Too many to list. Some are still on the drawing
boards, others are already obsolete. Some are test
vehicles, used only for research. The best way to
ent type of missile enters into the next group.
Ground-to-ground This is the largest and most
important group. It includes both guided missiles
and the highly publicized ballistic missiles (the
IRBMs and ICBMs). The basic difference is that
guided missiles are guided throughout their flight,
right up to the point of impact. Ballistic missiles are
guided only during the initial portion of their flight
when their engines are operating, and are "free fall
ing" projectiles the rest of the way, just like artillery
shells. Their engines are so powerful, however, that
they can accelerate up to 15,000 m.p.h. in the first
few moments of flight.
Short-range types are all Army weapons, replac
ing front-line artillery. Guided missiles in this class
include the Dart, a solid-rocket antitank weapon
with a range of about 1,000 yards; and the LaCrosse,
a solid-rocket antipillbox weapon with a range of
20 miles. Ballistic missiles include the Sergeant, a
100-mile projectile (solid rocket, inertial guidance),
and the 200-mile Redstone (liquid rocket, inertial
guidance).
Intermediate-range guided missiles (up to 1,500
miles) include the Air Force's Matador and the
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this "beam." In homing radar, the missile carries its
own radar, sends out its own signals and homes in
on the reflected echo.
The advantage of command and beam radar is
that these units can be operated from the ground or
from an airplane, eliminating much equipment from
the missile itself. A disadvantage of radar is that its
signals can sometimes be "jammed" by the enemy,
throwing a missile off course.
2. Other homing devices have instruments that
are sensitive to heat, light, or sound. Mounted in the
missile, they can home in on the source of these im
pulses. Infrared systems, for instance, can home in
on the heat from an airplane's engine. Limited in
range, homing systems are confined to smaller mis
siles, although they can be used in combination with
others for example, radar can direct a missile close
to a target where the homing device takes over.
3. Inertial systems (from "inertia," or stationary)
use gyroscopes which, whew spinning, tend to resist
any change in direction. Tkese "floating platforms"
are mounted in the missiles and set before take-off.
In flight, they note any deyiotion from the pre
scribed course, automatically sending correctional
signals to the control system. A alvatn is their
immunity from any oabede interference; a diend
vantage is that gyros, WfM fr ) M the
classify them is according to their purpose. All of
the following are either operational or in the de
velopment stage. Note the kinds of engines and
guidance systems each uses.
Air-to-air missiles These are the "intelligent"
bullets, fired from one airplane against another.
Examples are the Air Force's Falcon and the Navy's
Sidewinder, which both use solid-fuel rocket en
gines and infrared homing guidance systems. An
other one of interest: the Air Force's Genie, the
smallest missile with an atomic warhead, intended
to destroy whole fleets of enemy bombers.
Air-to-ground These are long-range bombs,
launched from airplanes into ground targets or ships.
They include the Air Force's Rascal (liquid rocket,
homing radar) and the Navy's Petrel (turbojet,
homing radar).
Ground-to-air Antiaircraft weapons, launched
from land or ships against airplanes. Most are short
range types for defense of specific areas: the Army's
Nike (solid rocket, command radar) and the Navy's
Talos (ramjet, beam radar). Long-range types, like
the Air Force's Bomarc (ramjet, beam radar), are
"pildtless airplanes" that seek and destroy enemy
aircraft up to 300 miles away.
With one exception, all of the above missiles are
guided missiles. (The Genie is unguided). A differ-
Navy's Regulus (both use turbojets, inertial guid
ance). Intermediate-range ballistic missiles (the
IRBMs) include the Air Force's Thor and the
Army's Jupiter (both use liquid rockets, inertial
guidance); and the Navy's unique Polaris (solid
rocket, inertial guidance), to be launched from sub
merged submarines.
Intercontinental-range missiles (up to 5,000
miles) are all Air Force weapons. Guided missiles in
this class include the Snarfc (turbojet, inertial guid
ance). Intercontinental ballistic missiles (the
ICBM's) include the Atlas and Titan (both use
liquid rockets, inertial guidance).
What is a multistage nWlit
Simply, it's two or more missiles stacked on top
of one another. The purpose is to extend the missile's
speed and range by firing the second stage where
the first one leaves off, and to lighten the missile's
weight en route by dropping each stage as it com
pletes firing. The best known multistage missiles are
the satellite launchers. The Army's Jupiter-C, for
instance, which threw America's first satellite into
orbit, used an elongated Redstone as its first stage,
a cluster of 11 modified Sergeants as the second
stage, three as the thirJ stage, and one in the final
stage with the satellite.
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