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Show Athena Scores Big Week With Two Successes Lower costs, and the fact that unguided rockets do not consume payload weights, are the chief advantages cited for using such systems in other programs. In programs such as ABRES (Advanced Ballistic Re-entry System) where a large number of Athena firings are a requirement, cost savings are significant. Moab, Utah, Thursday, July 11, 1965 The Athena Missile moved straight and true Friday, July 16, to record another success as it gathered vital re-entry data during the 15thy mission which it has flown from the Atlantic Research Corp. Missile System test complex at Green River. And again on Tuesday, the j White Sands Missile Range announced the successful launch of another Athena test missile Monday night from the White Sands Missile Range test complex at | Green River. The missile, number 16 in the series, impacted in a pre-determined impact area, over 400 miles to the south. Athena, blistering the earth's atmosphere as it completed the 417 mile flight from Green River before impacting on White Sands Missile Range, continued to compile data to help U. S. missile experts learn more about the phenomenon of reentry. With Athena's success has also come the possibility of sending guided missiles over even longer range. This was reported in a leading trade magazine this week. In an interview with Henry Rachele, chief of the meteorology research division, j U. S. Army, electronic research and development activity, it was disclosed that Athena shots have proven wind thrust can be controlled sufficiently for many rocket experiments. The main problem in unguided flight is to correct for wind thrust in early launch stages. Athena impact accuracy (some shots have impacted within 5 miles of target area) have caused Rachele to think "we can fly unguided rockets over thousands of miles." The Athena is a 4-stage missile. The first two stages stages are unguided; the second two are command guided. . 22 An Air Force Athena, manufactured and developed by Atlantic Research Missile Systems Division, leaves its launch pad from Green River. Five -hundred foot me- teorological tower can be seen. At the present time Athena firings are scheduled at night. |
