Nike (rocket stage)

The Nike stage or Nike booster, a solid fuel rocket motor, was developed by Hercules Aerospace for use as the first stage of the Nike Ajax (M5 motor) and Nike Hercules (M5E1 and M88 motor) missiles as part of Project Nike.

[1][2][3][4] It was subsequently employed in a variety of missiles and multi-stage sounding rockets, becoming one of the most popular and reliable rocket stages, not only in the United States, but also in several other countries around the world.

[5]

Below is a list of sounding rockets based on Nike, Nike-Nike or Nike upper stage combinations:[16][17][18]

Early Booster Missile Nike I (three fin model).
A Nike Orion rocket in flight
A Nike Tomahawk photographed at Wallops Flight Facility .