The Athena re-entry test vehicle, destined to play an integral role in the Air Force's Advanced Ballistic Re-entry Systems Programs, moved a step closer to full flight readiness recently when all four stages were mated for the first time at the launch site near Green River, Utah, and the completely assembled vehicle was fitted on the launcher.

Athena is designed to simulate the re-entry environment of inter-continental ballistic missiles. It will be fired from a point near Green River, Utah, and impact at White Sands Missile Range New Mexico, 470 miles away.

Atlantic Research, through its Missile Systems Division in Duarte, California, is responsible for design, fabrication, and checkout of Athena and its supporting equipment, including the launcher.

Launch of the Athena missile 11 February from Green River, Utah. The test was a failure, with the first stages of the rocket dropping into the desert 45 miles away. This is Defense Department film showing missile at ready, shots inside blockhouse, countdown, etc, for, but for some reason, nothing of blastoff. Maybe there is something for library purposes.