The Redstone rocket was an early American ballistic missile developed during the Cold War. It was designed by the Army Ballistic Missile Agency and became the first large-scale operational missile in the United States. The Redstone was capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and had a range of about 200 miles, making it a significant part of the U.S. military's arsenal. In addition to its military use, the Redstone rocket played a crucial role in the early days of the U.S. space program. It served as the launch vehicle for the first American astronaut, Alan Shepard, during the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission in 1961, marking a pivotal moment in space exploration.