Research on the aerodynamics of missiles was underway in 1957.
In the summer and fall of 1957 researchers used the 1×1 Supersonic Wind Tunnel to study various pressure forces on missile models. Missiles were an early technology in the 40s and 50s and this was early aerodynamic research. The tunnel, which generated air flows from Mach 1.3 to 3.0 through its 1-foot by 1-foot test section, began operating in the early 1950s to study inlets, nozzles and nose cones for missiles and aircraft.