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Super Pointy Sprint Missile - 0 to Mach 10 in 15 Seconds - 100Gs & 6000°F

Name: Super Pointy Sprint Missile - 0 to Mach 10 in 15 Seconds - 100Gs & 6000°F
Description: A short video on the US Sprint anti-ballistic missile, which accelerated to around Mach 10 in seconds under extreme g-forces and heat. It includes striking launch footage and a brief development history.

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Open on YouTube First HN thread

3 HN users recommended this explainer in 4 different months between 2021 and 2024.

2007–2026

1 strong recommendation 3 recommendations HackerTube score 4.5

Shared in hypersonic and missile threads as a compact, impressive overview of what Sprint achieved in the 1960s.

A short video on the US Sprint anti-ballistic missile, which accelerated to around Mach 10 in seconds under extreme g-forces and heat. It includes striking launch footage and a brief development history.

Pull quote: “It's a great overview of the development of the Sprint though, worth watching if it's of interest.” (HN, 2022)

Also tagged: sprint missile, hypersonic, anti-ballistic missile, cold war, nike-x

What Hacker News said

4 labeled comments from the HN archive; up to 20 are kept per video, favoring different commenters. Each one links back to the original thread.

Strongly recommends jcims July 2022 under US hypersonic missile fails in test- 2nd consecutive failed attempt

Great overview of Sprint development with remarkable launch tracking shot.

You beat me to it! This timecoded link shows the launch sequence of the Sprint with a tracking shot of the vehicle itself. Pretty remarkable watching it start to glow white: [this video] I think this is the first video on that channel where the subject can match the guy's cadence. It's a great overview of the development of the Sprint though, worth watching if it's of interest.

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Recommends jcims February 2021 under Don't Believe the Hype About Hypersonic Missiles

Footage of hypersonic Sprint anti-ballistic missile launch.

Cool video of the (hypersonic) Sprint anti-ballistic missile, designed to intercept incoming ICBMs once they get below the ionosphere and are more visible to radar: [this video] It looks fake. I'm bummed I'll likely never see something like that in person...at least in a test.

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Recommends mjreacher August 2021 under Missile Base for Sale

Six-minute explainer on the Sprint missile.

Here's a 6 minute video explaining the sprint missile for those unaware and interested (rather fascinating technology for the 70s) [this video]

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Recommends Terr_ February 2024 under Varda Capsule Reentry – Five Minutes from LEO to Earth [video]

Impressive footage of Sprint interceptor accelerating at 100g to Mach 10.

On the subject of impressive old missile footage, I recommend the Nike-X program's Sprint interceptor-missile. Not hot glowing plasma on re-entry, but instead going up . As a short-range interceptor, Sprints were slammed up out of their silos via an explosively-driven piston, then they would ignite and reorient in midair, accelerating at 100g to reach Mach 10. The missile itself couldn't see very much, but would be remotely guided with strong signals from the launch installation. [link] [link] [this video]

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