LITTLETON, Colo — For more than 50 years, a beloved rocket has served as the identity of Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Colo.
Now, that missile is preparing to take off.
The Nike-Hercules missile has been featured prominently near the school's entrance since 1968. It was perfect for a school named after Robert H. Goddard, who created the first liquid-fueled rocket.
The missile is in the process of being taken down to join the Weisbrod Aircraft Museum in Pueblo, and to make way for a parking lot and security improvements at the school.
Ben Millspaugh is the man behind making this missile possible for Goddard Middle School. He was a substitute science teacher for Littleton Public Schools and was asked to help plan an activity for the opening of Goddard Middle School due to his background in aviation and aerospace.
Millspaugh got word that the Army depot had missiles that were being declassified, or “put into a graveyard,” and asked if one could be donated to the school district.
The depot agreed and ended up donating the 41-foot-long Nike-Hercules missile to the school, which was about four times bigger than anyone expected, according to Millspaugh. All power capabilities were taken out of the rocket before it was placed in front of the school but, nonetheless, it’s a real rocket that was once capable of reaching an altitude of 150,000 feet and used against enemy bombers.
Millspaugh recalled the celebration of the school opening being a “festive occasion to say the least,” complete with 150 model rockets shot off, cheerleaders and a marching band.
Some alumni of Goddard Middle School have pushed back and are asking if anything can be done to prevent the rocket from being removed. But Millspaugh is happy that the missile is headed to the aircraft museum to be seen there.
Regardless of where its home is now, the missile will be remembered as an iconic mascot of Goddard Middle School by many of the students that went there.
“When it was sitting out in front of the school it looked like the school was well protected,” Millspaugh said.
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