File:Minuteman III MIRV path.svg

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Description

Diagram depicting the different stages of a Minuteman III missile path from launch to detonation, as well as the different basic stages of the missile themselves. Based on information in TRW Systems. (2001) Minuteman Weapon System History and Description.

Caption

The missile launches out of its silo by firing its 1st stage boost motor (A).
About 60 seconds after launch, the 1st stage drops off and the 2nd stage motor (B) ignites. The missile shroud (E) is ejected.
About 120 seconds after launch, the 3rd stage motor (C) ignites and separates from the 2nd stage.
About 180 seconds after launch, 3rd stage thrust terminates and the Post-Boost Vehicle (D) separates from the rocket.
The Post-Boost Vehicle maneuvers itself and prepares for re-entry vehicle (RV) deployment.
The RVs, as well as decoys and chaff, are deployed during backaway.
The RVs and chaff re-enter the atmosphere at high speeds and are armed in flight.
The nuclear warheads detonate, either as air bursts or ground bursts

Date

14 April 2008, 15:03

Source

http://www.nukestrat.com/us/afn/Minuteman.pdf. Completely re-drawn and re-worked from scratch by Fastfission in Inkscape.

Author

Fastfission

Permission
(Reusing this file)

This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Fastfission. This applies worldwide.

In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so:
Fastfission grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

SVG development

The SVG code is valid.

This diagram was created with Inkscape, or with something else.

If you want to credit someone, credit "Wikimedia Commons." Otherwise don't credit anyone, that's fine by me. --Fastfission 15:03, 14 April 2008 (UTC)

File history

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	Date/Time	Dimensions	User	Comment
current	14:32, 8 November 2009	1,055 × 767 (207 KB)	Fastfission~commonswiki	fix fonts, metadata
	16:00, 4 June 2009	1,055 × 767 (207 KB)	Martin23230	Changes as suggested at en:Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/ICBM diagram. 1. Show the missile leaving the silo at stage one. 2. Label the missile shroud on the left hand side. 3. Remove the shroud from stage two. 4. Show the level of the atmo
	23:58, 8 August 2006	1,055 × 647 (135 KB)	Fastfission~commonswiki	moving the island to make this look less like a US attack on Europe (which it isn't -- landscape is generic)
	10:49, 1 August 2006	1,055 × 647 (135 KB)	Fastfission~commonswiki	Diagram depicting the different stages of a w:Minuteman III missile path from launch to detonation, as well as the different basic stages of the missile themselves. ==Caption== ==Sources== Based on information in TRW Systems. (2001) Minuteman Weap