Ballistic missiles

A ballistic missile's path is always a parabola.

The term ballistic missile refers to unmanned rocket-powered weapons that are boosted to a high velocity, and then coast to their targets.

The first ballistic missiles were the the V-2 missiles Germany used in late World War 2. Their path is always parabolic. While the V-2's range was relatively short, by modern standards, they did rise out of the atmosphere, at their highest point.

Many ballistic missiles are designed to be armed with atomic warheads.