4 ms·
The USA has had Mach 23 ICBMs [1] and Mach 10 anti-ICBMs [2][2.2] since the 60s and 70s respectively. The Sprint rocket actually glows white hot because of its
by papermachete 7y ago
The USA has had Mach 23 ICBMs [1] and Mach 10 anti-ICBMs [2][2.2] since the 60s and 70s respectively. The Sprint rocket actually glows white hot because of its high speed.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGM-30_Minuteman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGM-30_Minuteman
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprint_(missile) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprint_(missile)
[2.2] https://youtu.be/msXtgTVMcuA?t=20 https://youtu.be/msXtgTVMcuA?t=20
- jessriedel 7y agoAll ICBM reach near-orbital velocities (~7.8 km/s, ~17,000 mph, ~Mach 23), including the Russian R-7 (the world's first ICBM in 1957) and the modern ICBMs on which Russia's Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle will ride. This is only possible while outside the atmosphere. The difference is that the traditional re-entry vehicles quickly slow down to mere supersonic speeds (Mach 1-5) when they re-enter the atmosphere, making them somewhat more vulnerable on final approach. Hypersonic glide vehicles, in contrast, maintain hypersonic speeds (Mach 5-10) until very late.