V-2 rocket

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Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1978-Anh.024-03, Peenemünde, Dornberger, Olbricht, Brandt, v. Braun

Wind channel model of an A4

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Antwerp V-2

Esquema de la V-2

Rocket engine A4 V2

V-2 rocket

The V-2 rocket, also known as the Vergeltungswaffe 2, was the world's first long-range guided ballistic missile. The missile, powered by a liquid-propellant rocket engine, was developed during World War II in Germany as part of the Nazi regime's V-weapons program. Designed by Wernher von Braun and his team at Peenemünde Army Research Center, the V-2 was a revolutionary step in warfare technology, setting the foundation for post-war rocket development in both military and civilian sectors.

Development

The development of the V-2 rocket began in the early 1930s, but it was not until 1942 that the first successful test flight was conducted. The project was marked by significant challenges, including technical difficulties, Allied bombings of production facilities, and the ethical implications of using forced labor for its construction. Despite these obstacles, the V-2 became the first human-made object to travel into space during its test flights, crossing the Kármán line, the boundary between the Earth's atmosphere and outer space.

Technical Specifications

The V-2 rocket was approximately 14 meters (46 feet) tall and had a diameter of 1.65 meters (5.4 feet). It was powered by an ethanol and liquid oxygen fuel mixture, and it had a range of about 320 kilometers (200 miles). The rocket could reach a maximum speed of 5,760 kilometers per hour (3,580 mph), with a peak altitude of 188 kilometers (117 miles). Its payload was an explosive warhead weighing approximately 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lbs), capable of causing significant destruction.

Operational History

The V-2 was first used in combat in September 1944, targeting London and later Antwerp and Liège as part of the Nazi's retaliatory campaign against the Allies. Over 3,000 V-2 rockets were launched during the war, causing thousands of civilian casualties. While the V-2's impact on the outcome of the war was limited, its psychological effect was significant, instilling fear and uncertainty among the civilian population.

Post-war Legacy

After the war, both the United States and the Soviet Union seized V-2 technology and personnel, including Wernher von Braun, to further their own rocket development programs. This led to the Space Race between the two superpowers, culminating in the Apollo program that successfully landed men on the Moon. The V-2 rocket's design and technology also influenced the development of early intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and the foundation of modern space exploration.

See Also

• Wernher von Braun
• Rocket
• Ballistic missile
• Space Race