The Redstone Rocket was the first large-scale, operational ballistic missile developed by the United States during the Cold War. It was designed in the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily for military purposes, and was capable of delivering a nuclear payload. The rocket was named after the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, where it was developed. In addition to its military applications, the Redstone Rocket played a significant role in the early days of the U.S. space program. It was used to launch the first American satellite, Explorer 1, in 1958, marking a key milestone in the space race against the Soviet Union and contributing to the development of future space exploration technologies.