Atlas V 421

Active

United Launch Alliance (ULA)

Oct. 11, 2007

Description

Atlas V is an expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. It was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin and is now operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture with Boeing. Each Atlas V rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage. The RD-180 engines are provided by RD Amross, while Aerojet Rocketdyne provides both the RL10 engines and the strap-on boosters used in some configurations. The 421 version uses a 4m wide fairing, 2 solid rocket boosters and one engine on the Centaur stage.

Specifications
  • Max Stage
    2
  • Length
    58.3 m
  • Diameter
    3.8 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    433.0 T
  • Thrust
  • Apogee (Sub-Orbital)
    40000.0 km
Family
  • Name
    Atlas V 421
  • Family
  • Variant
    421
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Atlas V 421
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $123000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    14067.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    6890.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

United Launch Alliance

Commercial
CEO: Tory Bruno
ULA 2006

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.

Atlas V 421 | SBIRS GEO-6

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Aug. 4, 2022, 10:29 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Sixth geosynchronous satellite of the Space Based Infrared System program (SBIRS), providing capabilities for early missile warning and missile defense. SBIRS GEO-6 is the second satellite using Lockheed Martin's LM2100 combat bus.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Atlas V 421 | SBIRS GEO-5

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
May 18, 2021, 5:37 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Fifth geosynchronous satellite of the Space Based Infrared System program (SBIRS), providing capabilities for early missile warning and missile defense. SBIRS GEO-5 is the first satellite using Lockheed Martin's LM2100 combat bus.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Atlas V 421 | NROL-52

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Oct. 15, 2017, 7:28 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Atlas V 421 | NROL-61

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
July 28, 2016, 12:37 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Atlas V 421 | Mexsat-2 (Morelos III)

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Oct. 2, 2015, 10:28 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Unknown Mission

There are no mission or payload details available for this launch.


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Atlas V 421 | MMS

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
March 13, 2015, 2:44 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Unknown Mission

There are no mission or payload details available for this launch.


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Atlas V 421 | WGS-2

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
April 4, 2009, 12:31 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

The Wideband Global SATCOM system (WGS) is a high capacity satellite communications system for use by US DoD and Australian Department of Defence. Providing communications for warfighters.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Atlas V 421 | ICO G1

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
April 14, 2008, 8:12 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

A satellite built by SSL bosed on the Loral 1300 platform. Its purpose, to support a wide range of mobile voice, video and data services. It covers the Continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Atlas V 421 | WGS-1

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Oct. 11, 2007, 12:22 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

The Wideband Global SATCOM system (WGS) is a high capacity satellite communications system for use by US DoD and Australian Department of Defence. Providing communications for warfighters.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Falcon 9
Success
2 days, 15 hours ago
Starlink Group 10-13
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
3 days ago
Starlink Group 9-9
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 20 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Long March 2
Success
3 days, 15 hours ago
Shenzhou 19
Launch Area 4 (SLS-1 / 921) - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Eighth crewed flight to the Chinese space station.


Falcon 9
Success
6 days, 14 hours ago
Starlink Group 10-8
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 22 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
NROL-167
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Fourth batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office t…