Guardian graphic | Sources: FAS, US Navy

Missile stages

Warheads

MIRV

Fairing

Interstage

Aerospike

6

4

5

3

2

1

Human

to scale

Stage 3

Stage 2

Stage 1

5

Outside Earth’s atmosphere, the missile’s onboard computer uses a star-sighting system to fine tune its position and velocity

 

6

MIRV, the multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle, changes orientation multiple times, releasing warheads on to different free-fall trajectories

1

Gas expanding in the launch tube propels missile to the surface

 

2

Once clear of the water, the first stage motor ignites

 

3

Stage 1 falls away,

stage 2 ignites

 

4

Stage 3 fires less than two minutes after launch. The missile is now travelling faster than 13,600 mph

Missile has a range of

more than 4,600 miles

Guardian graphic | Sources: Federation of American Scientists, US Navy

Missile stages

Warheads

MIRV

Nose fairing

Interstage

Aerospike

6

4

5

3

2

1

Human to scale

Stage 3

Stage 2

Stage 1

6

MIRV, the multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle, changes orientation multiple times, releasing warheads on to different free-fall trajectories

5

Outside Earth’s atmosphere, the missile’s onboard computer uses a star-sighting system to fine tune its position and velocity

3

Stage 1 falls away,

stage 2 ignites

 

4

Stage 3 fires less than two minutes after launch. The missile is now travelling faster than 13,600 mph

1

Gas expanding in the launch tube propels missile to the surface

 

2

Once clear of the water, the first stage motor ignites

Missile has a range of more than 4,600 miles

Jumbo jet to scale