Atlas III

Atlas III
The maiden flight of the Atlas III
FunctionMedium expendable launch vehicle
ManufacturerLockheed Martin
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height52.8 m (173 ft)
Diameter3.05 m (10.0 ft)
Mass214,338 kg (472,534 lb)
Stages2
Capacity
Payload to 185 km 28.5° Low Earth orbit
MassIIIA: 8,686 kg (19,149 lb)
IIIB: 10,759 kg (23,720 lb)[1]
Payload to Geostationary transfer orbit
MassIIIA: 4,060 kg (8,950 lb)
IIIB: 4,500 kg (9,900 lb)[1]
Payload to 185 km 90° Polar orbit
MassIIIA: 7,162 kg (15,790 lb)
IIIB: 9,212 kg (20,309 lb)[1]
Associated rockets
FamilyAtlas
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sites
Total launches6
(IIIA: 2, IIIB: 4)
Success(es)6
(IIIA: 2, IIIB: 4)[2]
First flightIIIA: 24 May 2000
IIIB: 21 February 2002
Last flightIIIA: 13 March 2004
IIIB: 3 February 2005
First stage
Powered by1 RD-180
Maximum thrust4,148.7 kN (932,700 lbf)
Specific impulse311 s (3.05 km/s)
Burn time132 seconds
PropellantRP-1 / LOX
Second stage (Atlas IIIA/IIIB) – Centaur (SEC)
Powered by1 RL-10A
Maximum thrust99.2 kN (22,300 lbf)
Specific impulse451 s (4.42 km/s)
Burn time738 seconds
PropellantLH2 / LOX
Second stage (Atlas IIIB) – Centaur (DEC)
Powered by2 RL-10A
Maximum thrust147 kN (33,000 lbf)
Specific impulse449 s (4.40 km/s)
Burn time392 seconds
PropellantLH2 / LOX

The Atlas III (known as the Atlas II-AR (R for Russian) early in development [3]) was an American orbital launch vehicle, used in the years between 2000 and 2005.[4] It was developed from the highly successful Atlas II rocket and shared many components.[1] It was the first member of the Atlas family since the Atlas A to feature a "normal" staging method, compared to the previous Atlas family members, which were equipped with two jettisonable outboard engines on the first (booster) stage (with a single center engine serving as the sustainer). The Atlas III was developed further to create the Atlas V.

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference ppg was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Space Launch Report: Atlas III Data Sheet". 1 December 2005. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Lockheed Martin Selects RD-180 to Power Atlas IIAR". International Launch Services. 17 January 1996. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Atlas IIIA". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2007.