Atlas SLV-3

Atlas SLV-3
Function Expendable launch system
Sounding rocket
Manufacturer Convair
General Dynamics
Country of origin United States
Launch history
Status Retired
Launch sites SLC-3E, Vandenberg
LC-14, Cape Canaveral
Total launches 5
Successes 3
Failures 2
First flight 1 June 1966
Last flight 16 August 1968

The Atlas SLV-3, or SLV-3 Atlas was an American expendable launch system derived from the SM-65 Atlas / SM-65D Atlas missile. It was a member of the Atlas family of rockets.

The Atlas SLV-3 was a stage and a half rocket, built as a standardised replacement for earlier Atlas launch systems, which had been derived from the various Atlas missiles.[1]

Versions[2][3]

Atlas-SLV3

ATDA atop an Atlas-SLV3 launch vehicle

It is most well known for launching the Augmented Target Docking Adapter (ATDA). The launch was conducted on 1 June 1966, and was the first flight of the Atlas SLV-3 as an independent vehicle.[4] The rocket was also used for three suborbital tests of X-23 Prime re-entry vehicles.

A Burner II upper stage could be used to increase payload.[5] The Atlas SLV-3 was also used as the first stage of several Atlas-Agena and Atlas-Centaur variants.

Atlas-SLV3A

Atlas-SLV3B

Atlas-SLV3C

Mariner 7 launch by an Atlas-SLV3C

Atlas-SLV3D

Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1A rocket which launching Mariner 10

References

  1. ↑ Encyclopedia Astronautica - Atlas
  2. ↑ http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_fam/atlas.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Advanced-Atlas-Launch-Vehicle-Digest.pdf
  4. ↑ "On The Shoulders of Titans - Chap. 14". Archived from the original on 2010-03-11. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  5. ↑ Gunter's Space Page - Atlas-SLV3 Burner-2

External links