ATLAS TEST

Press, Volume C, Issue 29638, 7 October 1961, Page 17

ATLAS TEST

Nose Cone Recovered (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) CAPE CANAVERAL, Oct. 5. The United States today fired an Atlas missile more than one-third of the way round the world in an exacting test of its nose cone. The silvery, 82ft Atlas left its launching pad in a fury of flame and smoke and seconds later climbed into lowhanging clouds and soared into the sky to the southeast, United Press International reported. About 50 minutes later, the nose cone, blackened by intense heat on its path back through the atmosphere, plunged into a target area about 9000 miles down the Atlantic missile range, in the Indian Ocean, south-east oi the African continent. The floating capsule was spotted in the ocean, and a range ship, the Coastal Crusader, sped to the scene and hauled the small package aboard —less than four hours after the firing. Two aeroplanes and a ship comprised a recovery team. It was the longest shot ever attempted with recovery plans. However, the distance of the rocket was a few miles short of the longest flight ever made by a ballistic missile —9054 miles by another Atlas last July 6. No recovery was attempted on that occasion.