Atlas (rocket family)
Atlas family | |
---|---|
Atlas II, III and V comparison | |
Role | Expendable launch system with various applications |
Manufacturer | Convair General Dynamics Lockheed Martin United Launch Alliance |
First flight | December 17, 1957[1] |
Introduction | 1957 |
Status | Atlas V (current) |
Primary users | National Aeronautics and Space Administration
|
Produced | 1957–2010s (decade) |
Variants | Atlas IIIA
Atlas V |
Atlas is a family of US missiles and space
The Atlas name was originally proposed by Karel Bossart and his design team working at Convair on project MX-1593. Using the name of a mighty titan from Greek mythology reflected the missile's place as the biggest and most powerful at the time. It also reflected the parent company of Convair, the Atlas Corporation.[3]
The missiles saw only brief ICBM service, and the last squadron was taken off operational alert in 1965. However, from 1962 to 1963
More than 300 Atlas launches have been conducted from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and 285 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Launch vehicles based on original Atlas ICBM
The Atlas was used as an
SM-65 Atlas missile
The first successful test launch of an SM-65 Atlas missile was on 17 December 1957.[1] Approximately 350 Atlas missiles were built.[4]
The Atlas boosters would collapse under their own weight if not kept pressurized with nitrogen gas in the tanks when devoid of propellants. The Atlas booster was unusual in its use of "balloon" tanks. The rockets were made from very thin stainless steel that offered minimal or no rigid support. It was pressure in the tanks that gave the rigidity required for space flight. In order to save weight they were not painted and needed a specially designed oil to prevent rust. This was the original use of WD-40 water displacement oil.[5]
The SM-65 Atlas was used as a first stage for satellite launch vehicles for half a century. Many were eventually converted to orbital launch vehicles after they were removed from service as missiles. Missiles converted into
SM-65B Atlas SCORE launch
Early Atlas rockets were also built specifically for non-military uses. On 18 December 1958, an Atlas was used to launch the Signal Communication by Orbiting Relay Equipment (SCORE) satellite, which was "the first prototype of a communications satellite, and the first test of any satellite for direct practical applications."[7][8][9] The communications payload was placed into low Earth orbit on Atlas serial number 10B without an upper stage. Atlas 10B/SCORE, at 8,750 lb (3,970 kg) was the heaviest artificial object then in orbit, the first voice relay satellite, and the first human-made object in space easily visible to the naked eye due to the large, mirror-polished stainless steel tank. This was the first flight in what would be a long career for the Atlas as a satellite launcher.
Atlas-D based launchers
Atlas D missile-derived SLV-3s were used for
Two
By 1979, Atlas space launcher variants had been whittled down to just the Atlas-Centaur and some refurbished ICBMs. The launch rate of Atlases decreased in the 1980s due to the advent of the Space Shuttle, but Atlas launches continued until 2004, when the last "classic" Atlas with balloon tanks and the jettisonable booster section launched a comsat for the Air Force.[11]
Mercury program
Atlas boosters were also used for the last four crewed Project Mercury missions, the first United States crewed space program. On February 20, 1962, it launched Friendship 7, which made three Earth orbits carrying John Glenn, the first United States astronaut to orbit the Earth. Identical Atlas boosters successfully launched three more crewed Mercury orbital missions from 1962 to 1963.
Atlas saw the beginnings of its "workhorse" status during the
Atlas-Agena
Beginning in 1960, the
Atlas-Centaur
The Atlas-Centaur was an
The first launch attempt of an Atlas-Centaur in May 1962 failed, the rocket exploding after take-off. Footage of this was shown in the penultimate shot of the 1983 art film Koyaanisqatsi, directed by Godfrey Reggio.
Beginning in 1963, the liquid hydrogen-fueled Centaur upper stage was also used on dozens of Atlas launches. NASA launched the Surveyor program lunar lander spacecraft and most of the Mars-bound Mariner program spacecraft with Atlas-Centaur launch vehicles.
Atlas E/F
Following retirement as an ICBM, the Atlas-E, along with the Atlas-F, was refurbished for orbital launches.[10]
The last Atlas E/F spacecraft launch was conducted on 24 March 1995, using a rocket which had originally been built as an Atlas-E. The last Atlas E/F launch to use a rocket which had originally been built as an Atlas-F was conducted on 23 June 1981.[13]
Atlas E/F was used to launch the Block I series of
Tabulated
Model name | First launch | Last launch | Total launches | Successes | ICBM base | Upper stage | Notable payloads | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlas-Vega[15] | - | - | 0 | 0 | Atlas E | storable propellant stage | none | Development was essentially identical to Atlas-Agena, and cancelled accordingly in 1959 |
Atlas-Able | 1959 | 1960 | 3 | 0 | Atlas-D/Able(Delta-A)[16] | Altair | Pioneer P-3, Pioneer P-30, Pioneer P-31 | 2 rockets failed during static firing, and 3 during attempts to launch Pioneer spacecraft to the Moon |
Atlas LV-3A | 1960 | 1968 | 49 | 38 | Atlas D | Agena |
Mariner 2, Ranger program, Missile Defense Alarm System | The baseline Atlas-Agena sub-family vehicle |
Atlas LV-3B | 1959 | 1963 | 9 | 9 | Atlas D | none | Friendship 7, Aurora 7, Sigma 7, Faith 7 | Human-rated Atlas LV-3A |
Atlas SLV-3 | 1964 | 1968 | 51 | 46 | Atlas D | Agena |
Corona, KH-7 Gambit |
same as LV-3A except reliability improvements |
Atlas SLV-3A | 1969 | 1978 | 10 | 9 | Atlas D | Agena |
Canyon | same as SLV-3 except stretched 2.97 m |
Atlas SLV-3B[17] | 1966 | 1966 | 1 | 1 | Atlas D | Agena D |
Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 1 | |
Atlas LV-3C | 1963 | 1967 | 11 | 8 | Atlas D | Centaur C | Surveyor 1 | The baseline Atlas-Centaur sub-family vehicle |
Atlas SLV-3C | 1967 | 1972 | 17 | 14 | Atlas D | Centaur D | ? | Same as LV-3C stretched 1.3 m |
Atlas SLV-3D | 1973 | 1983 | 32 | 29 | Atlas D | Centaur D1A | Mariner 10 | Same as SLV-3C except Centaur uprated and Atlas electronics integrated with Centaur |
Atlas G | 1984 | 1987 | 6 | 4 | Atlas G | Centaur D1A | ? | Same as SLV-3D but Atlas longer by 2.06 m |
Atlas I | 1990 | 1997 | 11 | 8 | Atlas G derived | Centaur D1A derived | CRRES[18] | Same as Atlas G except strengthened for 4.27 m payload fairing and ring laser gyro added. |
Atlas II | 1991 | 1998 | 10 | 10 | Atlas G derived | Centaur D1A derived | Eutelsat | Same as Atlas I except Atlas stretched 2.74 m, engines uprated, added hydrazine roll control, fixed foam insulation, deleted verniers, and Centaur stretched 0.9 m. Development done by General Dynamics (now part of Lockheed Martin). |
Atlas IIA |
1992 | 2002 | 23 | 23 | Atlas G derived | Centaur D1A derived | - | Same as Atlas II except Centaur RL10 engines uprated to 88 kN of thrust and 6.5 Isp increase from extendible RL10 nozzles |
Atlas IIAS |
1993 | 2004 | 30 | 30 | Atlas G derived[citation needed] | Centaur D1A derived | - | Same as Atlas IIA except 4 Castor IVA strap-on boosters added |
Atlas D-OV1 | 1965 | 1967 | 7 | 6 | Atlas D | none | OV (Orbiting Vehicle) flights | ICBM refurbished for orbital launch |
Atlas E | 1980 | 1995 | 23 | 21 | Atlas E | none | ICBM refurbished for orbital launch | |
Atlas F | 1968 | 1981 | 23 | 22 | Atlas F | none | ? | ICBM refurbished for orbital launch |
Atlas H | 1983 | 1987 | 5 | 5 | Modified Atlas G | Centaur stage removed | NOSS satellites | Atlas G modified for West Coast Avionics. SLC 3E modified for Space Booster hold down system versus weapon system flyaway |
RD-180 era
Atlas III
The first stage of the Atlas III discontinued the use of three engines and 1.5 staging in favor of a single Russian-built Energomash RD-180 engine, while retaining the stage's balloon tank construction. The Atlas III continued to use the Centaur upper stage, available with single or dual RL10 engines.[19]
Atlas V
The Atlas V, currently in service, was developed by
The Atlas V's first stage is called the Common Core Booster (CCB), which continues to use the Energomash RD-180 introduced in the Atlas III, but employs a rigid framework instead of balloon tanks. The rigid fuselage is heavier, but easier to handle and transport, eliminating the need for constant internal pressure. Up to five Aerojet Rocketdyne strap-on solid rocket boosters can be used to augment first stage thrust. The upper stage remains the Centaur, powered by a single or dual Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10 engines.[22]
Model name | First launch | Last launch | Total launches | Successes | 1st-stage engines | Upper-stage engines | Notable payloads | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlas IIIA |
2000 | 2004 | 2 | 2 | 1xRD-180 | 1xRL10A | Eutelsat W4 | Major revision of Atlas IIA, with new RD-180 first-stage engine, normal staging, first stage stretched 4.4 m and strengthened. First single RL10 engine Centaur. |
Atlas IIIB |
2002 | 2005 | 4 | 4 | 1xRD-180 | 1xRL10A | Same as Atlas IIIA, except for Centaur stretched 1.7 m and an optional dual engine Centaur. | |
Atlas V 400 | 2002 | 2022 | 59 | 58 | 1xRD-180 | 1xRL10A | LCROSS, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter |
Major revision of Atlas III, with new first-stage structure (CCB) and with optional solid strap-on boosters. |
Atlas V 500 | 2003 | - | 18 | 18 | 1xRD-180 | 1xRL10A | X-37B, Mars Science Laboratory |
Revision of Atlas V 400, with optional solid strap-on boosters, and Centaur stage encapsulated inside 5.4 m payload fairing. |
Atlas V N22 | 2019 | - | 2 | 1 | 1xRD-180 | 2xRL10A | Starliner Boeing OFT |
Revision of Atlas V with optional two solid strap-on boosters, and no Centaur 5.4 m payload fairing, but the Starliner spacecraft. |
RD-180 phaseout
In 2014,
In September 2014, ULA announced that it had entered into a partnership with
In December 2014, legislation to prevent the award of further military launch contracts to vehicles that use Russian-made engines was approved by the US Congress. The bill allows ULA to continue to use the 29 RD-180 engines already on order at the time.[25] In September 2021, ULA announced that Atlas V will be retired after they fulfill their remaining launch contracts, and that all remaining RD-180s for the remaining rockets have been delivered.[21]
Formerly proposed launch vehicles
Prior to the April 2015 announcement of the
Atlas V Heavy
The Atlas V Heavy was a ULA concept proposal that would have used three Common Core Booster (CCB) stages strapped together to provide the capability necessary to lift 25 tonne payload to low Earth orbit.[citation needed] ULA stated that approximately 95% of the hardware required for the Atlas HLV had already been flown on the Atlas V single-core vehicles.[citation needed]
A 2006 report, prepared by RAND Corporation for the
The lifting capability of the Atlas V HLV was to be roughly equivalent to the Delta IV Heavy. The latter utilizes RS-68 engines developed and produced domestically by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne.[28]
Atlas V Phase 2
After December 2006, with the merger of Boeing and Lockheed-Martin space operations into
See also
References
- ^ a b Rusty Barton. "Atlas ICBM Chronology". Archived from the original on 2006-02-04.
- ^ Deny Rocket Lag. Atlas Firing Keynotes U.S. Missile Build-Up, 1959/01/29 (1959). Universal Newsreel. 1959. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
- ^ Helen T. Wells; Susan H. Whiteley & Carrie E. Karegeannes. Origin of NASA Names. NASA Science and Technical Information Office. pp. 8–9.
- ^ "This week in history - Feb. 26, 1954: Air Force awards contract for Atlas ICBM propulsion system". U.S. Air Force. February 28, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- ^ "WD-40 History | Learn the Stories Behind the WD-40 Brand | WD-40". www.wd40.com. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- ^ "Atlas E". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on March 5, 2002. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ "Project SCORE". Patterson Army Health Clinic. Archived from the original on 2007-06-24.
- ^ "SCORE (Signal Communication by Orbiting Relay Equipment)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ Video: Atlas In Orbit. Radios Ike's Message Of Peace To World, 1958/12/22 (1958). Universal Newsreels. 1958. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
- ^ a b c "Encyclopedia Astronautica – Atlas A". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Tariq Malik (August 31, 2004). "Final Atlas 2 Rocket Orbits Classified U.S. Satellite". space.com. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- ^ Mark Wade. "Atlas/Agena D SLV-3A". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2002. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ "Atlas F". spacelaunchnow.me. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter D. "DMSP-5D2 F6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ^ "Atlas Vega". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ "Delta A". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2002. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ "Atlas-SLV3B Agena-D". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ "Atlas I". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on August 27, 2002. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ "Space Launch Report: Atlas III Data Sheet". 1 Dec 2005. Archived from the original on 6 Apr 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Lockheed Martin Ready For Launch Of Intelsat 14 Spacecraft". Lockheed Martin. November 11, 2009. Archived from the original on 17 December 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ a b Roulette, Joey (26 August 2021). "ULA stops selling its centerpiece Atlas V, setting path for the rocket's retirement". The Verge. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ^ "Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle". Afspc.af.mil. March 2009. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ "ULA Could Buy as Many as 30 More Russian-made RD-180 Engines". SpaceNews. 2015-01-20. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
- ^ Ferster, Warren (2014-09-17). "ULA To Invest in Blue Origin Engine as RD-180 Replacement". Space News. Archived from the original on September 18, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-19.
- ^ Petersen, Melody (2014-12-12). "Congress OKs bill banning purchases of Russian-made rocket engines". LA Times. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
- ^ National Security Space Launch Report (PDF). RAND Corporation. 2006. p. 29. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ National Security Space Launch Report (PDF). RAND Corporation. 2006. p. xxi. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ Atlas V EELV – Lockheed-Martin Retrieved on 2008-02-08. Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved on 2011-11-19.
- ^ a b "HSF Final Report: Seeking a Human Spaceflight Program Worthy of a Great Nation" (PDF). October 2009. p. 64. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-02-16. Retrieved 2011-02-07.
Review of U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee
Further reading
- Gainor, Christopher, "The Atlas and the Air Force: Reassessing the Beginnings of America's First Intercontinental Ballistic Missile," Technology and Culture 54 (April 2013), 346–70.