Atlas-Able

In-active Atlas

Convair ()

Nov. 26, 1959

Description

The Atlas-Able was an American expendable launch system derived from the SM-65 Atlas missile. It was a member of the Atlas family of rockets, and was used to launch several Pioneer spacecraft towards the Moon. Of the five Atlas-Able rockets built, two failed during static firings, and the other three failed to reach orbit.

Specifications
  • Stages
    3
  • Length
    35.0 m
  • Diameter
    3.05 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    3.05 m
  • Launch Mass
    120 T
  • Thrust
    1587 kN
Family
  • Name
    Atlas-Able
  • Family
    Atlas
  • Variant
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Atlas-Able
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    250 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

Convair

Commercial
None
1943

Convair, previously Consolidated Vultee, was an American aircraft manufacturing company that later expanded into rockets and spacecraft. The company was formed in 1943 by the merger of Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee Aircraft. In 1953 it was purchased by General Dynamics, and operated as their Convair Division for most of its corporate history.

Atlas-Able | P-31

Convair | USA
Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
Dec. 15, 1960, 9:10 a.m.
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:

An intended lunar orbiter the vehicle was destroyed when the launch vehicle exploded due to a malfunction in the first stage.

Lunar Orbit
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Atlas-Able | P-30 (Able VA)

Convair | USA
Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
Sept. 25, 1960, 3:13 p.m.
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:

An intended lunar orbiter probe. The vehicle failed during launch.

Lunar Orbit
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Atlas-Able | P-3

Convair | USA
Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
Nov. 26, 1959, 7:26 a.m.
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:

The Pioneer P-1, -3, -30 and -31 series was intended to be a lunar orbiter probe, but the mission failed shortly after launch. The objectives were to place a highly instrumented probe in lunar orbit, to investigate the environment between the Earth and Moon, and to develop technology for controlling and maneuvering spacecraft from Earth.

Lunar Orbit
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