What initiates the rocket motor on the forward hanger of the AIM-9M?

The initiation of the rocket motor on the forward hanger of the AIM-9M missile is primarily achieved through the contact buttons. These buttons are part of the overall safety and arming system of the missile. Their primary function is to establish an electrical connection necessary for activating the rocket motor once the missile is in a suitable launch configuration.

When the missile is mounted on the launch platform, the contact buttons are pressed, completing a circuit that signals the missile's guidance and control systems to prepare for launch. This mechanism ensures that the missile's propulsion system engages safely and efficiently at the right moment, enabling it to follow its intended path toward a target.

The other options relate to aspects of the missile's operation but do not directly initiate the rocket motor in the specific context of the forward hanger. The guidance system directs the missile towards its target, the control circuit manages various electrical functions within the missile, and the launch handle triggers the overall launch sequence but does not directly engage the rocket motor in the same manner that the contact buttons do.