 An Atlas D LV-3B launching Mercury-Atlas 6 | |
| Function | Crewed expendable launch system |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Convair |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 28.7 metres (94.3 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.0 metres (10.0 ft) width over boost fairing 4.9 metres (16 ft) |
| Mass | 120,000 kilograms (260,000 lb) |
| Stages | 1½ |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Mass | 1,360 kilograms (3,000 lb)[1] |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | CCAFS LC-14 |
| Total launches | 9 |
| Success(es) | 7 |
| Failure(s) | 2 |
| First flight | 29 July 1960 |
| Last flight | 15 May 1963 |
| Boosters | |
| No. boosters | 1 |
| Powered by | 2 Rocketdyne XLR-89-5 |
| Maximum thrust | 1,517.4 kilonewtons (341,130 lbf) |
| Burn time | 135 seconds |
| Propellant | RP-1/LOX |
| First stage | |
| Diameter | 3.0 metres (10.0 ft) |
| Powered by | 1 Rocketdyne XLR-105-5 |
| Maximum thrust | 363.22 kilonewtons (81,655 lbf) |
| Burn time | 5 minutes |
| Propellant | RP-1/LOX |
The Atlas LV-3B, Atlas D Mercury Launch Vehicle or Mercury-Atlas Launch Vehicle, was a human-rated expendable launch system used as part of the United States Project Mercury to send astronauts into low Earth orbit. Manufactured by Convair, it was derived from the SM-65D Atlas missile, and was a member of the Atlas family of rockets. With the Atlas having been originally designed as a weapon system, testing and design changes were made to the missile to make it a safe and reliable launch vehicle. After the changes were made and approved, the US launched the LV-3B nine times, four of which had crewed Mercury spacecraft.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Atlas LV-3B / Mercury". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2011.