The success of the German V-2 rocket during WWII spurred the development of several long range missile programs in the U.S., including Hermes, Navaho, and RTV-A-2 Hiroc. The Soviet detonation of a thermonuclear device in August 1953 brought a national urgency to these efforts.
At the U.S. Air Force, Trevor Gardner was the Assistant Secretary for Research and Development. In October 1953 he assembled the Strategic Missile Evaluation Committee, codenamed the Teapot Committee. It was chaired by John Von Nuemann and staffed by technical leaders from academia and industry. These included Si Ramo and Dean Wooldridge who had developed the first guided air-to-air missile at Hughes Aircraft. They had recently formed their own company, funded by Thompson Products. The USAF liaison was Colonel Bernard Schiever.
From Wernher von Braun, the Teapot Committee knew that a successful missile development required the full commitment of the government, military, and scientific and manufacturing communities. Coordination between these groups was essential. The technical challenges included extremes vibration and heat, precision guidance,
MX-774 - RTV-A-2 Hiroc - Atlas
V-2 - Hermes - Redstone
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