Atlas V 421

Active Atlas

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 T
  • Thrust
  • Apogee (Sub-Orbital)
    40000 km
Family
  • Name
    Atlas V 421
  • Family
    Atlas
  • Variant
    421
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Atlas V 421
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $123000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    14067 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    6890 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 | USA
Cape Canaveral, 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 | USA
Cape Canaveral, 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 | USA
Cape Canaveral, 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 | USA
Cape Canaveral, 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 | USA
Cape Canaveral, 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 | USA
Cape Canaveral, 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 | USA
Cape Canaveral, 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 | USA
Cape Canaveral, 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 | USA
Cape Canaveral, 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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