Hermes project

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The Hermes project was an effort undertaken in 1944 by the Ordnance Corps of the United States Army to develop long-range missiles similar to the V-2 rocket developed by Germany. The primary contract for the project was awarded to General Electric on 20 November 1944. After the end of World War II the project was expanded to include test firings and further development of V-2 technology captured in Germany and brought to the United States. On 16 April 1946 the first V-2 launch in the project took place at Launch Complex 33 of the White Sands Proving Grounds. The rocket reached only 3.4 miles in altitude, but subsequent launches were more successful.[1] During this time, Wernher von Braun and his rocket team were being held near White Sands, at Fort Bliss, Texas. A total of 58 V-2 rockets were launched as part of the program, in addition to 8 Bumper rockets which each used a V-2 as their first stage.[2]

The Hermes project was brought to an end on December 31, 1954.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Area and Missile Range Chronology. White Sands Missile Range.
  2. ^ Bumper 8 - 50th Anniversary of the First Launch on Cape Canaveral - Group Oral History. NASA.
  3. ^ Hermes A-3B. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.


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