Object Details
Manufacturer
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
Summary
This is the Corporal, America's first operational guided missile. The liquid-propellant Corporal was equipped with a conventional or atomic warhead and ranged 75 miles. It was guided by a beam-riding guidance system and gyro-controlled graphite jet exhaust vanes. The California Institute of Technology's GALCIT (Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory, California Institute of Technology) began development of the Corporal in 1944.
It was first successfully fired in 1947. Its development, however, was slow, and it did not became operational until 1954. The Corporal was furnished to the U.S. and British armies and was also stationed in Italy. The Corporal went out of service in 1966.
This missile was donated to the Smithsonian in 1968 by the U.S. Navy.
Alternate Name
Corporal Missile
Credit Line
Transferred from U.S. Navy
Date
ca. 1950-1958
Inventory Number
A19680010002
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets
Materials
Overall, non-ferrous metal, possibly aluminum; steel screws around body; white plastic inserts in at least two holes around base of missile.
Dimensions
3-D (Aluminum Pallet Storage): 121.9 × 121.9 × 35.6cm, 91.2kg (4 ft. × 4 ft. × 1 ft. 2 in., 201lb.)
3-D (Lifting Bracket 1): 74.9 × 91.4 × 10.2cm, 19.5kg (2 ft. 5 1/2 in. × 3 ft. × 4 in., 43lb.)
3-D (Lifting Bracket 2): 74.9 × 91.4 × 10.2cm, 19.5kg (2 ft. 5 1/2 in. × 3 ft. × 4 in., 43lb.)
3-D (Lifting Bracket 3): 76.2 × 6.3 × 10.2cm, 8.6kg (2 ft. 6 in. × 2 1/2 in. × 4 in., 19lb.)
3-D (Lifting Bracket 4): 81.3 × 7.6 × 3.8cm, 5kg (2 ft. 8 in. × 3 in. × 1 1/2 in., 11lb.)
Overall: 36 ft. 4 1/2 in. × 2 ft. 6 in., 2960lb. (1108.7 × 76.2cm, 1342.6kg)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Exhibit Station
Rockets & Missiles
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19680010002