Peacekeeper missile on display at museum Published April 29, 2011 By Jeanette Miller National Museum of Nuclear Science and History Albuquerque, NM -- The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History received a Peacekeeper MX missile today. The MX stands for "Missile-eXperimental." The 71-foot, 195,000 pound LGM-118A missile arrived in sections and will be immediately available for viewing, though it will not be fully re-assembled for several months. The Peacekeeper was the military's most accurate and powerful intercontinental ballistic missile from 1986 until it was decommissioned in 2005. Some of the decommissioned missiles have been used to launch satellites. "This significant object will be one of the largest items in our already-extensive collection," said Jim Walther, director of the museum. "This is believed to be the last of these artifacts available for public display. The museum is fortunate to receive and preserve it for future generations." As its name suggests, the Peacekeeper was primarily a deterrent. It was developed for the intended purpose of counterforce strikes. Each missile had a warhead with the ability to deliver up to 10 individual warheads, which meant that 50 active Peacekeeper missiles could destroy up to 500 enemy missile silos. A warhead with this capability is known as an MIRV - Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle. The Peacekeeper had a range of 6,000 miles and a speed of 15,000 mph. A major problem during the life of the Peacekeeper program was "survivability" from an enemy strike. Hardened silos were built to serve as fortresses for the missile as well as fortified trains, though budgetary constraints kept trains from ever being put into use. Underground silos were the eventual storage site of all Peacekeeper missiles, and also served as the launch location. Though a number of issues minimized the Peacekeeper's efficacy, including housing, funding, and finally an end to the Cold War, the missile was still a crucial part of the United States' nuclear arsenal. There is no additional admission fee to view the missile exhibit; the regular admission is $8 for adults and $7 for youth or seniors. The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is at 601 Eubank SE, at the entrance to the Sandia Science and Technology Park. Formerly the National Atomic museum, which opened in 1969 and was chartered by Congress in 1991, the Museum serves as a repository and steward of nuclear-related historical items and is a Smithsonian affiliate. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 361 days a year. For more information, visit www.nuclearmuseum.org or call 245- 2137.