Background An ICBM with a range of 6500 miles has a stagnation temperature of 12, 000F, 2000 of hotter than the surface of the sun Calculations showed that the optimum design for structural strength, resistance to heating, and free flight stability was a long, needle nosed reentry body But it would vaporize during reentryBackground • An ICBM with a range of 6500 miles has a stagnation temperature of 12,000 ºF, 2000 ºF hotter than the surface of the sun • Calculations showed that the optimum design for structural strength, resistance to heating, and free flight stability was a long, needle nosed reentry body – But it would vaporize during reentry