keywords: atlas rocket, icbm, german v-2 rocket, military parade at red square, control room, 1950s highway system
Synopsis: This film documents the world events starting with the use by Germany of the V-2 rocket as a weapon of war and leading up to the production of America's first ICBM, the Atlas, first flown in 1957.
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Shows a large trailer hauling a covered, cylindrical object, leaving California and traveling the highways to an East Coast test facility. Russian announces the test of an ICBM, then Sputnik One, then Sputnik Two catching America by surprise and ushering in the Space Age.
Flashback to the German V-2 rockets in the closing days of WWII. Shows tests of German V-2 rockets at the White Sands proving grounds. Explains specifications of the German V-2 rockets. Russian Military Parade in Red Square. Images of America's long range bombers the B-36, B-47, B-52, B-58.
Footage of the MX-774 missile project.
Explains the development and challenges faced in developing a functional ICBM. Shows new manufacturing facilities under construction, the Convair Plant in San Diego, and static test stands. Atlas test stands, control rooms, engineers, and launch of an Atlas at Florida test site. Shows failure of first two Atlas missiles launched and then a successful launch
Footage of vehicles on America's highway system in the 1950's. Various scenes of people smoking cigarettes.
