The Polaris Rocket The Polaris, a United States Navy surface-to-surface intermediate-range ballistic missile. It is also called a fleet ballistic missile, or FBM and is considered to be one of the most important weapons our country now has at its disposal.(in 1962) This rocket can be launched from submarines under water, from surface ships, or from land bases. It will be the primary weapon carried by our fleet of nuclear- powered submarines, each of which will be equipped with sixteen of these nuclear-war headed missiles. The two-stage Polaris, which is 28 feet long and 5 feet in diameter, is made of steel and weighs 28,000 pounds. Its range is 1200 nautical miles at a speed of 8,000 miles per hour. Advanced versions of the missile will have ranges of 1500 and 2500 nautical miles. The first successful firing of the Polaris from under water took place on July 20, 1960, when two of the missiles were launched from the nuclear submarine George Washington.