Nose Cone Re-Entered

The Army's basic problem in designing the celebrated Jupiter-C missile nose cone was to make it tough enough so that it would not burn up like a meteor when it re-entered the atmosphere from more than 400 miles up. But a secondary problem, in the day of interservice rivalry, was to bring it back alive to prove that the Army had overcome a good portion, at least, of the re-entry problems.* To solve the homecoming problem, the Army disclosed last week, the nose cone displayed practically every type of electronic legerdemain except playing The Star-Spangled Banner.

As the red-hot nose cone blazed in last August after a 1,200-mile flight at a speed of more than 9,000 m.p.h., it coolheadedly ejected a parachute to brake its plunge, and popped out a balloon and a letter (later successfully delivered to Army Missileman Major General John B. Medaris). Next it fired off several small bombs just before "impacting" in the water to let the Navy outfield know where to look, then dangled flags and a flashing beacon above its watery resting place. As a broadcasting station, it popped out antennas, began "beeping" out its location. Then, for good measure, it spewed out dye marker and shark repellent. As intended, the 4-ft. nose cone was shortly recovered, and went on to its just reward as the inanimate star of the President's first missile speech.

* A claim also held by the Air Force, which insists its Xi; missiles have successfully rocketed "reentry bodies" back to earth from hundreds of miles up.

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