The events on this day in history for our heritage companies are noted below.
April 22
The earliest event was in 1947, the latest event was in 2012
Two milestone events (5 to 65+ years ago)
Human Spaceflight:
1970 – MM X-24A flight 12, Dryden Lake – Pilot Jerhauld Gentry – MILESTONE: 55 years ago
Military and Classified Programs:
1947 – Martin Company contracts with the AAF (Army Air Force) to begin production of the MX-771/MGM-1 (Matador surface-to-surface cruise missile)
1971 – LAUNCH: Classified mission, MM Titan 23B, SL4W, VAFB
2012 – LAUNCH: USA 212 launched, ULA Atlas V 501, LC41, CCAFS
Exploration and Interplanetary Programs:
NONE
Earth-Monitoring and Civil Weather Satellite programs:
NONE
Commercial Programs:
NONE
Test, ICBM, FBM programs:
1960 – LAUNCH: GD Atlas D, 576-B2, VAFB – First Atlas D at VAFB – MILESTONE: 65 years ago
Other:
NONE
The photos today are examples of a Matador MGM-1/61-A surface-to-surface cruise missile launch (the Matador test flights are not included in the daily events). First Photo Credit: Found on Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum website of archived photos. Second Photo Credit: Found on Wikipedia, attributed to archives at Patrick Air (Space) Force Base.
Here is information about the Matador program from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum:
Named after the Spanish word meaning “to kill”, the Matador bomber was envisioned in August 1945 as the U.S. military sought methods of delivering heavy weapons payloads long distances without risking manned crews. Development of the missile got underway in 1947 and test firings began in Alamogordo, New Mexico by 1949.
As a result of the Korean War, priority and production of the Matador was stepped up in 1950. A Matador production vehicle, designated B-61A, was approved by the U.S. Air Force in January 1951, at which time production of the missile officially began.
The Matador could carry a 3,000-pound conventional or nuclear warhead and was designed to be launched from either a mobile ramp or hardened shelter. A 50,000 pound launch thrust was provided by a solid-fueled booster attached under the Matador’s tail. Cruise thrust of 4,600 pounds was provided by a turbojet engine. The earliest Matador required line-of-sight radio guidance, which substantially decreased its desired 650 mile range. An upgraded Matador, designated TM-61B, added a Shanicle hyperbolic guidance system, which increased the missile’s range to a maximum of 500 miles.
