We would like to thank our loyal fellow members of the Nike Historical Society for your continued support over the years.
We will be closing the Society, including the store, as of March 31, 2024.
We have acquired a large repository of Nike technical information.
The web site will continue to be available.
It has been our pleasure to keep the legacy of the Nike missile's contribution of the successful conclusion to the Cold War.
the Board of Directors
Nike Historical Society
WARNING
RADIO-FREQUENCY RADIATION HAZARD
Radio-frequency radiations from radar antennas and associated equipment could present a potential hazard to battery personnel. The effect of RF radiation is not cumulative, but it could be hazardous. RF radiation heats the body tissues. When the intensity is high, the radiation may produce enough heat to damage the tissues permanently. Damage to body tissue is not immediately apparent. Precautions should be taken to insure that personnel are not exposed to RF radiations of hazardous intensity levels.
A power level of 10 milliwatts per square centimeter, although not considered potentially hazardous, is stipulated by AR 40-583 as the maximum permissible exposure level for personnel subjected to RF radiation fields. Personnel should not be permitted to enter areas where they may be exposed to levels above 10 milliwatts per square centimeter.
A power density of 10 milliwatts per square centimeter is present along the axis of the transmitted beam at the following distances from the Improved Nike-Hercules radar antennas. In each instance, the intensity rapidly diminishes as the distance is increased.
ANTENNA DISTANCE
AJI High Power Acquisition Radar Systems 502-537-Non-scanning 240 feet
Systems 502-537-Rotating 33 feet
Systems 538-594 and 801 and above-Non-scanning 330 feet
Systems 538-594 and 801 and above-Rotating 60 feet
Low Power Acquisition Radar-Non-scanning 127 feet
Missile Tracking Radar-Nike-Ajax Mode 126 feet
Target Tracking Radar-Wide Pulse Mode 230 feet
Transmitting antennas in the non-scanning mode should not be positioned so as to radiate into areas occupied by passive antennas. The resulting reflections may present a potential hazard to personnel working in the vicinity of the passive antennas.
The intensity of the beam from the target tracking radar in the narrow pulse mode, from the low power acquisition radar when rotating, from the missile tracking radar in the Nike-Hercules mode, and from the target ranging radar is inconsequential under operating conditions.
Access to the Mobile HIPAR antenna trailer and the roofs of the equipment vans should be prohibited during periods of radar operation.
This information is base upon the average power outputs and may be used as a guide to prevent radio-frequency radiation hazards.