Talk:Ballistic missile

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is within the scope of the WikiProject Firearms; If you would like to join us, please visit the project page where you can find a list of open tasks. If you have any questions, please consult the FAQ.

Start

This article has been rated as Start-Class on the quality scale

Additional information:

	This article has been checked against the following criteria for B-Class status: Referencing and citation: not checked Coverage and accuracy: not checked Structure: not checked Grammar: not checked Supporting materials: not checked

This article is within the scope of the Military history WikiProject. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see lists of open tasks and regional and topical task forces. To use this banner, please see the full instructions.

Start

This article has been rated as Start-Class on the quality scale.

Additional information and associated task forces:

	This article has been checked against the following criteria for B-Class status: Referencing and citation: criterion not met Coverage and accuracy: criterion not met Structure: criterion met Grammar: criterion met Supporting materials: criterion met
Associated task forces (general topics):
	Military technology and engineering task force
	Weaponry task force

[edit] Definition

This article doesn't make clear to me what differentiates a ballistic missile, like the V-2, from earlier experiments in rocketry. The first liquid-fueled rocket was the one built by Robert Goddard in 1926. Evidently "ballistic missile" means one possessing some characteristics that Goddard's rocket lacked, but the article doesn't explain this point. JamesMLane 15:45, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Mainly the distinction is that ballistic missiles are intended as weapons. Goddard's first rocket was an experiment in propulsion and rocket design; it was not a weapon. There are also a number of features common to all ballistic missiles that had not been figured out yet in the early days of rocketry - putting the rocket engine below the payload instead of above is a notable one. Ballistic missiles also require a sophisticated control system if they are to impact sufficiently near their target; since Goddard's was not a weapon, it lacked such a system. Not that all modern ballistic missiles are great in that area, either - the Scud (basically a modified V-2) is infamous for its inaccuracy in its early variants. --Fasrad 03:35, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

Pictures corrected and made to the default size of 250 pix. Additon of Agni-series. --Chanakyathegreat 07:36, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

Given that the Shahab-4 & 5 have been cancelled and never actually manufactured what is the point in even mentioning them in the article (as missiles that never existed!)? Kiumars

[edit] What does this mean, anyway?

Hi.

I saw this: "These missiles can have an impact on the ground that can cause massive damage. These missiles can make a 35 mile crater and have an effect up to over 1200 km. The explosion may only affect 3/4 of the blast but all people will die in days from radiation."

It's not the impact itself that causes the damage, it's the detonation of the nuclear warheads. Also, how can it affect a 1200-km radius? Is this referring to the nuclear fallout, or the blast itself? Does it have to do with atmospheric focusing? And wouldn't a 35-mile crater require a much bigger explosion than any nuke we've ever built (that is about 1/3 the size of the Chicxulub crater!)? Is there a cite for this? mike4ty4 22:20, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Missile Types

I noticed that someone gave the missile types for all Chinese ballistic missiles, but for most other nations, it either says their country name or nothing at all. It would be useful if someone were to change all that. I would, but some of the linked articles have unsourced statements to what type of missile it is (i.e. France's Hades missile is said to be SRBM but there is no source for that information), and I don't have the expertise myself. Mgraham1985 (talk) 18:24, 25 March 2008 (UTC)