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Defenders of America* series. The USAF THOR Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (SM-75) is America's first of its kind to be deployed to an operational unit and the first such missile to be deployed overseas. This 1,500 nautical-mile missile is manufactured by Douglas and powered by a North American liquid rocket engine. Guided by an all-inertial control system, the THOR can carry a nuclear warhead to an altitude of several hundred miles. The Air-Force's first IRBM Training Unit—the 672nd Strategic Missile Squadron—was activated by the Strategic Air Command in January, 1958. The THOR was used for the main propulsion system in the launching of the U. S. Historic Lunar Probe of October 11–13, 1958. This photograph was taken when the moon sailed tantalizingly above its nose. |
