A Study on the Range and Accuracy of Long-Rang Ballistic Missiles

Abstract

The flight of a ballistic missile is idealized by the assumptions that the speed is acquired impulsively at sea level and that drag is absent. With practical long-range rockets the distance traversed under power is usually 5-10% of the total range, and the length of re-entry path in which drag is significant is even smaller. Consequently the impulsive assumption gives a good first approximation both for the range and for the impact errors of long-range rockets.