The Evolution of Minuteman Guidance and Control

Abstract

On February 1, 1961 a Minuteman I Intercontinental Ballistic Missile first streaked into the air from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Minutes later its reentry vehicle had reached the designated impact area several thousand miles down-range. Today, after 14 years have passed, Minuteman I missiles are still being launched from Vandenberg Aii Force Base in Caliiornia -delivering experimental pay loads into the Kwajalein Lagoon, which lies beyond the International Date Line in the far Pacific.