Launch of Polaris Missile

Date: July 20, 1960 • Location: Washington, United States

The Polaris missile is successfully launched from a submarine, the USS George Washington, for the first time.

The UGM-27 Polaris missile was a two-stage solid-fueled nuclear-armed submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). As the United States Navy's first SLBM, it served from 1961 to 1980.

This milestone marked a defining occurrence in United States's and world history, leaving an indelible imprint on societal development, international relations, and cultural memory. Its enduring ramifications continue to be examined and commemorated by historians and scholars across the globe.