On this day in space! Sept. 6, 1947: The US Navy launches 1st V-2 rocket at sea in ballistic missile test

On September 6, 1947, the United States Navy conducted its first ballistic missile test by launching a V-2 rocket from the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier. The V-2 rocket was a German creation captured by Allied forces at the end of World War II, and its development had been spearheaded by German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun, who later worked for NASA.

The launch took place about a few hundred miles south of Bermuda, with the USS Midway sailing to a strategic location for the operation. After liftoff, the V-2 rocket began to veer off course, tilting midair and eventually reaching an altitude of 15,000 feet (4,600 meters) before falling back to Earth.

Although the launch did not achieve its intended trajectory, it was a significant milestone in the history of missile technology. This test flight marked the inception of ballistic missile launches by the U.S. Navy, which would later become an integral part of naval arsenals. It also represented a crucial step forward in the evolution of U.S. missile technology, which would eventually culminate in the development of orbital rockets.