Atlas-Agena

Atlas-Agena was a United States expendable launch system derived from the SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile and used for a variety of NASA and United States Department of Defense missions, including the Ranger program, Lunar Orbiter program, and Mariner program. The Atlas-Agena was developed by Convair and Lockheed Corporation, with the Agena upper stage being built by Lockheed Corporation. The launch vehicle was used for a range of missions, including launching NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft to Venus and the Ranger 4 spacecraft to the Moon. The Atlas-Agena played a significant role in the Space Race, with launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Introduction

The Atlas-Agena launch vehicle was a crucial part of the United States space program, with its first launch occurring on February 28, 1962, carrying the Samos 2 satellite into orbit. The Atlas-Agena was used for a variety of missions, including launching NASA's Mariner 3 spacecraft to Mars and the Lunar Orbiter 1 spacecraft to the Moon. The launch vehicle was also used for National Reconnaissance Office missions, such as launching the Corona satellite. The Atlas-Agena was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Vandenberg Air Force Base, with the Eastern Range and Western Range providing support for the launches. The Atlas-Agena was an important part of the Space Race, with the Soviet Union's Vostok program and Luna program providing competition.

Design and Development

The Atlas-Agena launch vehicle was derived from the SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile, with the Agena upper stage being built by Lockheed Corporation. The Atlas-Agena was designed to carry a variety of payloads, including NASA's Ranger program and Lunar Orbiter program spacecraft. The launch vehicle was powered by a combination of Rocketdyne engines, including the MA-5 engine and the Bell Aerosystems Agena engine. The Atlas-Agena was designed to be launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Vandenberg Air Force Base, with the Eastern Range and Western Range providing support for the launches. The Atlas-Agena was developed in conjunction with the United States Air Force's Ballistic Missile Division and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.

Operational History

The Atlas-Agena launch vehicle had a long and successful operational history, with its first launch occurring on February 28, 1962. The Atlas-Agena was used for a variety of NASA missions, including the Ranger program, Lunar Orbiter program, and Mariner program. The launch vehicle was also used for National Reconnaissance Office missions, such as launching the Corona satellite. The Atlas-Agena was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Vandenberg Air Force Base, with the Eastern Range and Western Range providing support for the launches. The Atlas-Agena played a significant role in the Space Race, with the Soviet Union's Vostok program and Luna program providing competition. The Atlas-Agena was also used for European Space Agency missions, such as launching the HEOS-1 satellite.

Variants

There were several variants of the Atlas-Agena launch vehicle, including the Atlas-Agena A, Atlas-Agena B, and Atlas-Agena D. The Atlas-Agena A was the first variant to be launched, with its first launch occurring on February 28, 1962. The Atlas-Agena B was an improved variant, with a more powerful Agena upper stage. The Atlas-Agena D was the most common variant, with a total of 109 launches occurring between 1963 and 1978. The Atlas-Agena was also used as the basis for the Atlas-Centaur launch vehicle, which was used for a variety of NASA missions, including the Surveyor program and Voyager program.

Launch History

The Atlas-Agena launch vehicle had a total of 109 launches, with the first launch occurring on February 28, 1962. The launch vehicle was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Vandenberg Air Force Base, with the Eastern Range and Western Range providing support for the launches. The Atlas-Agena was used for a variety of NASA missions, including the Ranger program, Lunar Orbiter program, and Mariner program. The launch vehicle was also used for National Reconnaissance Office missions, such as launching the Corona satellite. The Atlas-Agena played a significant role in the Space Race, with the Soviet Union's Vostok program and Luna program providing competition.

Specifications

The Atlas-Agena launch vehicle had a height of 29.08 meters and a diameter of 3.05 meters. The launch vehicle had a mass of 116,100 kilograms and was powered by a combination of Rocketdyne engines, including the MA-5 engine and the Bell Aerosystems Agena engine. The Atlas-Agena had a payload capacity of 1,600 kilograms to Low Earth orbit and 500 kilograms to Geostationary transfer orbit. The launch vehicle was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Vandenberg Air Force Base, with the Eastern Range and Western Range providing support for the launches. The Atlas-Agena was an important part of the United States space program, with its legacy continuing to be felt in the modern Space Shuttle program and International Space Station program. Category:Spaceflight