Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02

event Of an attack on Washing
ton:
At the battery control in the
trailer the alert is sounded. II
is flashed to the Nike launching
The launchers are raised and a
huge elevator that carries extra
missiles from underground stor-
age vaults is manned.
Details of the elevator, the
vaults and their capacity re-
main classified information.
A radar that can reach out a
great distance picks up the tar
get. 1t continuously reports the
position of the oncoming plane
or rocket until the target-track-
ing radar can come into play
and lock on the target.
Meanwhile, the missile radar
swings around until it is pointed
directly at the Nike standing in
its launcher. The target radar
and missile radar automatically
begin feeding information into a
computor.
The computor predicts the
point in space to which the Nike
must travel to intercept the en-
envy. This spot in the air is
known as the interrogation
point" 1t is automatically pin
pointed on a plotting board.
Capt. Dover watches myriad
little lights begin to blink like q
huge pinball machine.
When the lights tell him that
four separate switches have beer
opened at the launching sight. a
safety precaution which pre-
vents his firing before tn G
lsunchers are ready. he rechecks
the interception point and the
path of the target.
AS soon as the object comes
within the range of his Nike, he
moves the toggle.
There is a terrific roar. Flame
and smoke belch from the grace
full filmed missile. 1t hovers just
above the ground for a fraction
Of a second or so before taking
of straight up at supersonic
speed.
Meanwhile. the computor is
steadily clicking out its infor-
nation. all transferred auto
matically to the Nike, now on its
way. If the target turns, the
missile turns.
1t continues on its way. The
booster tail section expends its
fuel and drops to earth. The
warhead. powered by jet en-
CINE. continues at supersonic
speed, using regular Jet fuel and
red Tuning nitric acid.
Then the Explosion
Once close to the target--and
the computer knows when 1t is
close enough - another auto
matte device explodes the war;
head, almost certainly knocking
whatever is near out of the air.
Safety has not been over
looked. II. after launching Nike,
the target is identified as a
friendly plane. the two tracking
radars can be switched of.
The computer itself can be
"over-rode" manually TO jam
the decorating device and the
Nike will pass harmlessly to be
exploded a safe distance beyond
the target.
The present Nike is only the
FIRST adult member of an ever
increasing family Of missiles,
Col. Morse said. New models
soon to be delivered, designed
for use on the same launching
racks. are infinitely more power
full and have many times the
speed and range Of the present
missiles.
Other types OF missiles or
rockets under development make
these seem harmless gnats by
comparison.
But as Col. Morse proudly
points out when he gazes around
his command.
The Nike Is not a drawing
board proposition. II Is opera
tional around many Of the prin-
cipal cities OF the Nation. II viii
do the Job it's intended 10 do
We have proved that az the Red
Canyon New Mexico) ranges. II
provides the most effective anti
aircraft protection the world
mas ever seen.
These missiles win never be
fired except ~ an enemy. But
one thing y esrtain--itS here.
nov. ready 70 go