Atlas (rocket family)

Atlas (rocket family) is a family of expendable launch systems developed by Convair and later operated by Lockheed Martin and United Launch Alliance. The Atlas rocket family has been used for a wide range of missions, including launching NASA's Mercury-Atlas 6 spacecraft, which carried John Glenn into orbit around the Earth, as well as launching numerous Intelsat and commercial communications satellites into geostationary orbit. The Atlas rocket family has also been used by the United States Air Force to launch defense satellites and other space-based systems. The development of the Atlas rocket family involved collaboration with several organizations, including NASA, United States Air Force, and National Reconnaissance Office.

Introduction

The Atlas rocket family was first developed in the late 1950s by Convair as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the United States Air Force. The first successful launch of an Atlas rocket occurred on December 17, 1957, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Atlas rocket family was later modified for use as a launch vehicle for NASA's Mercury program, with the first successful launch of a Mercury-Atlas spacecraft occurring on February 21, 1961. The Atlas rocket family has since been used for a wide range of missions, including launching Intelsat and Intelsat 2 satellites into geostationary orbit for Intelsat, as well as launching defense meteorological satellites for the United States Air Force. The Atlas rocket family has also been used to launch New Horizons spacecraft, which flew by Pluto in 2015, and OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which is currently exploring Bennu.

Design and Development

The Atlas rocket family was designed and developed by Convair in the late 1950s, with the first successful launch occurring in 1957. The Atlas rocket family was initially developed as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the United States Air Force, but was later modified for use as a launch vehicle for NASA's Mercury program. The Atlas rocket family consists of several variants, including the Atlas-Agena, Atlas-Centaur, and Atlas V. The development of the Atlas rocket family involved collaboration with several organizations, including NASA, United States Air Force, and National Reconnaissance Office. The Atlas rocket family has undergone several upgrades and modifications over the years, including the development of new engines and guidance systems. The Atlas rocket family has been used to launch numerous SpaceX and Blue Origin spacecraft, including the Dragon and New Shepard spacecraft.

Variants

The Atlas rocket family consists of several variants, including the Atlas-Agena, Atlas-Centaur, and Atlas V. The Atlas-Agena was used to launch several NASA spacecraft, including the Ranger and Surveyor spacecraft. The Atlas-Centaur was used to launch several Intelsat and commercial communications satellites into geostationary orbit. The Atlas V is the most recent variant of the Atlas rocket family and has been used to launch numerous NASA spacecraft, including the New Horizons and OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. The Atlas rocket family has also been used to launch several United States Air Force spacecraft, including the defense satellite communications system and the space-based infrared system. The Atlas rocket family has been used by several launch providers, including United Launch Alliance, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.

Operational History

The Atlas rocket family has been used for a wide range of missions, including launching NASA spacecraft, Intelsat and commercial communications satellites, and United States Air Force spacecraft. The first successful launch of an Atlas rocket occurred on December 17, 1957, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Atlas rocket family has since been used for numerous launches, including the launch of John Glenn into orbit around the Earth on February 20, 1962. The Atlas rocket family has also been used to launch several SpaceX and Blue Origin spacecraft, including the Dragon and New Shepard spacecraft. The Atlas rocket family has been used by several launch providers, including United Launch Alliance, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. The Atlas rocket family has undergone several upgrades and modifications over the years, including the development of new engines and guidance systems.

Notable Missions

The Atlas rocket family has been used for several notable missions, including the launch of John Glenn into orbit around the Earth on February 20, 1962. The Atlas rocket family was also used to launch the New Horizons spacecraft, which flew by Pluto in 2015. The Atlas rocket family has also been used to launch the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which is currently exploring Bennu. The Atlas rocket family has been used to launch several Intelsat and commercial communications satellites into geostationary orbit, including Intelsat 1 and Intelsat 2. The Atlas rocket family has also been used to launch several United States Air Force spacecraft, including the defense satellite communications system and the space-based infrared system. The Atlas rocket family has been used by several organizations, including NASA, United States Air Force, and National Reconnaissance Office, to launch numerous spacecraft, including Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and Spitzer Space Telescope.

Category:Rocket families