Atlas-Agena
Encyclopedia
The Atlas-Agena 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 for 119 orbit
al launches between 1960 and 1978.
The Atlas-Agena was a two and a half stage rocket, with a stage and a half Atlas missile as the first stage, and an RM-81 Agena
second stage. Initially, Atlas D
missiles, redesignated as the LV-3, were used as the first stage These were later replaced by the standardised Atlas SLV-3
, and its derivatives, the SLV-3A and B. The final Atlas-Agena launch used an Atlas E/F
.
Launches were conducted from Launch Complexes 12
, 13
and 14
at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
, and Launch Complexes 1 and 2 at Point Arguello
(now SLC-3
and 4
at Vandenberg Air Force Base
).
(GATV), which was planned for use as the rendezvous
target for the Gemini 6 mission. The failure of the GATV launch led NASA
to instead have Gemini 6 rendezvous with another piloted spacecraft, Gemini 7
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
expendable launch system
Expendable launch system
An expendable launch system is a launch system that uses an expendable launch vehicle to carry a payload into space. The vehicles used in expendable launch systems are designed to be used only once , and their components are not recovered for re-use after launch...
derived from the SM-65 Atlas missile. It was a member of the Atlas
Atlas (rocket family)
Atlas is a family of U.S. space launch vehicles. The original Atlas missile was designed in the late 1950s and produced by the Convair Division of General Dynamics, to be used as an intercontinental ballistic missile...
family of rockets, and was used for 119 orbit
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
al launches between 1960 and 1978.
The Atlas-Agena was a two and a half stage rocket, with a stage and a half Atlas missile as the first stage, and an RM-81 Agena
RM-81 Agena
The RM-81 Agena was an American rocket upper stage and satellite support bus which was developed by Lockheed initially for the canceled WS-117L reconnaissance satellite program...
second stage. Initially, Atlas D
SM-65D Atlas
The SM-65D Atlas, or Atlas D, was the first operational version of the U.S. Atlas missile. It first flew on April 14, 1959. Atlas D missiles were also used for orbital launches, both with upper stages and on their own as a stage-and-a-half vehicle....
missiles, redesignated as the LV-3, were used as the first stage These were later replaced by the standardised Atlas SLV-3
Atlas SLV-3
The Atlas SLV-3, or SLV-3 Atlas 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 for three suborbital tests of X-23 Prime re-entry vehicles...
, and its derivatives, the SLV-3A and B. The final Atlas-Agena launch used an Atlas E/F
Atlas E/F
The Atlas E/F, also designated SB-1A was an American expendable launch system and sounding rocket built using parts of decommissioned SM-65 Atlas missiles...
.
Launches were conducted from Launch Complexes 12
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 12
Launch Complex 12 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida is a launch pad used by Atlas rockets and missiles between 1958 and 1967. It is the second-most southern of the pads known as missile row, between LC-11 to the south and LC-13 to the north...
, 13
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 13
Launch Complex 13 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida is a deactivated launch complex used by Atlas rockets and missiles between 1958 and 1978. It is the third-most southern of the complexes known as missile row, between LC-12 and LC-14...
and 14
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14
Launch Complex 14 is a launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. LC-14 was used for various manned and unmanned Atlas launches, including the Friendship 7 flight aboard which John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth....
at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
, and Launch Complexes 1 and 2 at Point Arguello
Point Arguello
Point Arguello is a headland used as a launch site by the United States Navy. Point Arguello was first used in 1959 for the launch of military and sounding rockets. It was transferred to the United States Air Force in 1964, at which time it became part of Vandenberg Air Force Base.There were 6...
(now SLC-3
Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 3
Space Launch Complex 3 is a launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base that has been used by Atlas and Thor rockets. It was built in the early 1960s and consists of two pads, SLC-3E and SLC-3W . The East-West coastline at Vandenberg allows SLC-3 to launch over-ocean polar trajectories that avoid...
and 4
Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4
Space Launch Complex 4 , was a launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, used by Atlas and Titan rockets between 1963 and 2005. It consisted of two separate launch pads, SLC-4W and SLC-4E, which were formerly designated PALC2-3 and PALC2-4 respectively. Both pads were originally built for use by...
at Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
).
Variants
| Name | First launch | Last launch | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas LV-3 Agena-A | 1960-02-26 | 1961-01-31 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Atlas LV-3 Agena-B | 1961-07-12 | 1965-03-21 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 2 | |
| Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 1963-07-12 | 1965-07-20 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 1964-08-14 | 1967-11-05 | 47 | 41 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1966-04-08 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B | 1966-06-07 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Atlas SLV-3A Agena-D | 1968-03-04 | 1978-04-08 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | |
| Atlas E/F Agena D | 1978-06-27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
Notable launches
On 1965-10-25 the Agena stage of an Atlas-Agena D failed to orbit the first Gemini Agena Target VehicleAgena Target Vehicle
The Agena Target Vehicle was an unmanned spacecraft used by NASA during its Gemini program to develop and practice orbital space rendezvous and docking techniques and to perform large orbital changes, in preparation for the Apollo program lunar missions.-Operations:Each ATV consisted of an Agena-D...
(GATV), which was planned for use as the rendezvous
Space rendezvous
A space rendezvous is an orbital maneuver during which two spacecraft, one of which is often a space station, arrive at the same orbit and approach to a very close distance . Rendezvous requires a precise match of the orbital velocities of the two spacecraft, allowing them to remain at a constant...
target for the Gemini 6 mission. The failure of the GATV launch led NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
to instead have Gemini 6 rendezvous with another piloted spacecraft, Gemini 7
Gemini 7
Gemini 7 was a 1965 manned spaceflight in NASA's Gemini program. It was the 4th manned Gemini flight, the 12th manned American flight and the 20th spaceflight of all time . The crew of Frank F. Borman, II and James A...
.