The ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) had its first practical development during World War II. Werner von Braun and his German team tested the ICBM, A910 rocket during January and February 1945. This weapon was intended to bomb American cities. Following WWII, both Russia and the United States began rocket research programs. The German, short‐ranged V‐2 missile was used as a study base. The United States ICBM research created a three‐stage rocket in 1946. As the use of thermonuclear weapons was growing in 1954, the rocket research and application became a national priority. America’s first Atlas A rocket flew in June 1957. The first armed rocket using an Atlas D became operational in September 1959. During the Cold War and into Post‐Cold War years, several countries got into ballistic missile development. The countries were Russia, United States, India, France, Israel, Pakistan, China and North Korea. ICBM submarine‐launched missiles were developed by the U.S., Russia, United Kingdom, France and China. As of December 2017, according to the arms Control Association, 31 countries possess ballistic missiles, 9 possess nuclear weapon capabilities. In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the development of 40 Atlas and 40 missiles. Since 1947, America’s military and political leaders have been concerned about attack by Soviet bombers and later missiles. In 1957, the U.S. and Canada created NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command), based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This led to the development of 54 ICBM complexes throughout America. This photo program takes you to the Count Ferdinand von Galen Titan Missile Museum Education and Research Center, located 32 miles south of Tucson, . It was a Titan II launch complex 571‐7, originally part of the 571st Strategic Missile Squadron 390th Strategic Missile Wing, part of the Davis‐Monthan Air Force Bases, Arizona. It was the only remaining Titan II ICBM complex that served from 1963 and 1987. This complex went off alert on November 11, 1982 and became a museum in February of 1983. In 1994, the site became a National Historic Landmark. Sources: http://www.u‐s‐history.com/pages/h1955.html, http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/home, http://www.norad.mil/Portals/29/Documents/A%20Brief%20History%20of%20NORAD%20(current%20as%20of%20Mar ch%202014).pdf, https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2025, http://tucson.com/news/retrotucson/photos‐titan‐ii‐ nuclear‐missiles‐ringed‐tucson‐during‐the‐cold/collection_c2d96e5e‐0d50‐5a1a‐ac93‐e3a5edbb2601.html, http://www.azfamily.com/story/31824952/titan‐missile‐museum, https://www.c‐span.org/video/?418033‐1/titan‐ missile‐museum, and https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/missiles.

acuri.net John R. Vincenti Titan Missile Museum, 1580 W. Duval Mine Road, Green Valley, Arizona