Atlas I

Atlas I
Launch of the maiden flight of the Atlas I, with the CRRES satellite
FunctionExpendable launch system
ManufacturerGeneral Dynamics
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height43.90m (144.00 ft)
Diameter3.05m (10 ft)
Mass164,300kg (362,200 lb)
Stages2.5
Capacity
Payload to 185 km (115 mi) LEO
Mass5,900 kg (13,000 lb)[1]
Payload to GTO
Mass2,375 kg (5,236 lb)[2]
Associated rockets
FamilyAtlas
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesLC-36B, Cape Canaveral
Total launches11
Success(es)8
Failure(s)3
First flightJuly 25, 1990
Last flightApril 25, 1997
Boosters – MA-5[3]
No. boosters1
Powered by2 LR-89-7
Maximum thrust1,901.6 kN (427,500 lbf)[3]
Specific impulse293.4 s (2.877 km/s)
Burn time155 seconds[2]
PropellantRP-1 / LOX
First stage
Powered by1 LR-105-7
Maximum thrust386.4 kN (86,900 lbf)[3]
Specific impulse316 s (3.10 km/s)
Burn time266 seconds[2]
PropellantRP-1 / LOX
Second stage – Centaur
Powered by2 RL-10A
Maximum thrust147 kN (33,000 lbf)
Specific impulse449 s (4.40 km/s)
Burn time410 seconds[2]
PropellantLH2 / LOX

The Atlas I was a US expendable launch system manufactured by General Dynamics in the 1990s to launch a variety of satellites. It was largely a commercial rebrand of the Atlas G (although it did fly multiple government payloads), but did feature several electrical and guidance improvements.[4] Atlas I did not feature any major payload capacity improvements over its predecessor[1] but did offer a larger payload fairing option.[2] Eleven launches took place, with three failures.

Atlas I would be further developed and improved upon to produce the highly successful Atlas II rocket.[2]

  1. ^ a b Gunter D. Krebs. "Atlas-1 (Atlas I)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f General Dynamics (April 1992). "Atlas Mission Planner's Guide". Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Norbert Brügge. "Variants of the "stage and a half" drive system (MA) of the Atlas rocket". Archived from the original on January 20, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  4. ^ Mark Wade. "Atlas I". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2020.