All You Need To Know About The Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

ICBM launch phases

ICBMs are multi-phase rockets and will go through a preset sequence of events prior to the rocket reaching its target. At takeoff, the ICBM goes through what is called the boost phase. The American Minuteman III ICBM, for example, has a three-stage booster. During the boost phase, the rockets get the missile airborne. This phase lasts around 2-5 minutes until the ICBM has reached space. ICBMs can have up to three rocket phases with each one ejected, or discard after it burns out.