In pictures: Technology's hidden past

Visitors to one of the two hangars that will be incorporated into the new £64m museum building are met by two intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The Polaris missile was developed by the US but also formed the backbone of the British nuclear deterrent until it was replaced by the Trident system in the 1990s.

The submarine-launched missiles had a range of more than 2,800 miles (4,500km) and could carry six warheads.

The museum's missiles are inert and were used for training purposes.