Atlas-II
The Atlas-II was a significant advancement in the Atlas Program, a series of American expendable launch vehicles developed by Convair and later General Dynamics. Here are some detailed points about the Atlas-II:
Development and History
- Origins: The Atlas-II evolved from the original Atlas rocket, which was initially designed as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during the Cold War. The transition from a military to a space launch vehicle began in the late 1950s.
- First Flight: The first successful launch of the Atlas-II occurred on December 7, 1991, from Cape Canaveral.
- Improvements: The Atlas-II incorporated several enhancements over its predecessors:
- Upgraded engines with higher thrust.
- Extended fuel tanks for increased payload capacity.
- Improved guidance systems for more precise trajectory control.
- Variants: There were three main variants of the Atlas-II:
- Atlas-II: The basic model with standard performance upgrades.
- Atlas-IIA: Featured a new Centaur upper stage with an upgraded RL10A-4 engine.
- Atlas-IIAS
Performance
- Payload Capacity: The Atlas-II could deliver up to 6,600 kg (14,550 lbs) to a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 2,900 kg (6,393 lbs) to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).
- Launch Record: Over its service life, the Atlas-II had a high success rate, with only one failure out of 63 launches.
Notable Missions
- Commercial Satellite Launches: The Atlas-II was frequently used for launching commercial communications satellites into geostationary orbit.
- Scientific Missions: It also played a role in several scientific missions, including:
Retirement
The Atlas-II was retired in 2004, with its last launch occurring on August 31, 2004. It was succeeded by the Atlas V, which offered even greater payload capacity and reliability.
External Links
Related Topics