Atlas (missile)

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Atlas missile launch from Cape Canaveral in 1957

The Atlas is a venerable line of space launch vehicles originally built by the Convair Division of General Dynamics, and now Lockheed Martin. Originally designed as an ICBM in the late 1950s, the Atlas is today used as a launch platform for commercial and military satellites, and other space vehicles.

Contents

1 History
2 Design
3 Current Atlas Family
4 External links
5 Related content

History

The Atlas, first tested in 1959, was the United States' first successful ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile). It was a "1.5 stage", liquid-fueled (LOX and RP-1) rocket, with three engines producing 1,590 kN of thrust.

Atlas, named for the Atlas of Greek mythology, got its start in 1946 with the award of an Army Air Forces research contract to Convair for the study of a 1,500 to 5,000 mi. (2,400 to 8,000 km) range nuclear armed missile. The Convair team was lead by Karel Bossart. This was the MX-774 or Hiroc project. The contract was canceled in 1947 but the Army Air Forces allowed Convair to launch the three almost-completed research vehicles using the remaining contract funds. The three flights were only partially successful. However they did show that balloon tanks, and gimbaled rocket engines were valid concepts. In 1955, the CIA learned that the Soviet ICBM program was making progress so Atlas became a crash program of the highest national importance.

Atlas ICBM launching from semi-hardened "coffin" bunker at Vandenberg AFB, California.

Mercury Atlas 9 rocket and spacecraft on Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral, FL in 1963.

The missile was originally given the military designation "XB-65", thus making it a bomber; from 1955 it was redesignated "SM-65" and, from 1962, it became "CGM-16". This letter "C" stood for "coffin" or "Container", the rocket being stored in a semi-hardened container; it was prepared for launch by being raised and fueled in the open. The Atlas-F (HGM-16) was stored vertically underground, but launched after being lifted to the surface.

The Atlas-F was known to be deployed in a 175 foot deep underground missile silo that were "hardened" against all but a direct nuclear hit. These silos were usually located together in groups of 12-15 silos throughout the midwest. The 551st Strategic Missile Squadron (551st SMS) located in Southeastern Nebraska is an example of this. From the mid-1960s, the Atlas (and its 'bigger brother', the Titan) were phased out in favor of the LGM-30 Minuteman, a solid-fuelled rocket which could be stored for long periods and launched, without fueling, at the turn of a key.

Though never used in combat, the Atlas was used as the expendable launch system for the Mariner space probes used to study Mercury, Venus, and Mars (1962–1973); and to launch ten of the Mercury program missions (1962–1963). Atlas was suggested for use by the United States Air Force in what became known as Project Vanguard. This suggestion was ultimately turned down, however, as Atlas would not be operational in time and was seen by many as being too heavily connected to the military for use in the U.S.' IGY satellite attempt.

However, the Atlas saw the beginnings of its "workhorse" status during the Mercury-Atlas missions, which resulted in Lt. Col. John H. Glenn Jr. becoming the first American to orbit the earth on February 20, 1962 (Major Yuri A. Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut, was the first human in orbit on April 12, 1961.) Atlas was also used throughout the mid-1960s to launch the Agena Target Vehicles used during the Gemini program. Direct Atlas descendants have continued to be used as satellite launch vehicles into the 21st century. An Atlas rocket is shown exploding, in the 1980's film Koyaanisqatsi, directed by godfrey Reggio, in the penultimate shot.

Design

Atlas was rare in its use of balloon tanks for fuel, made of very thin stainless steel with minimal or no rigid support structures. Pressure in the tanks provides the structural rigidity required for flight. An Atlas rocket will collapse under its own weight if not kept pressurized. The only other known use of balloon tanks at the time of writing is the Centaur high-energy upper stage. The rocket tank had two small side rockets called Vernier Rockets that helped to steer its trajectory.

Atlas also had a unique and somewhat odd staging system. Most rockets stage by dropping both engines and fuel tanks. However, when the Atlas missile was being developed, there were considerable doubts as to whether or not a rocket motor could be ignited in space. Therefore, the decision was made to ignite all three of the Atlas' engines at launch - later, two of the engines would be discarded, while the third continued to burn. Rockets using this technique are sometimes called stage and a half boosters. This technique is made possible by the extremely light weight of the balloon tanks. The tanks make up such a small percentage of the total booster weight that the weight penalty of lifting them to orbit is less than the technical and weight penalty required to throw half of them away mid-flight. Depending on how you look at it, this makes Atlas a single-stage-to-orbit booster (though most call it a 1.5 stage to orbit).

Current Atlas Family

The Atlas II series had 63 successful flights with the last launched August 31, 2004, it is considered one of the most reliable launchers in the world.

The newest version of Atlas, the Atlas V, is an Atlas in name alone as it contains little Atlas technology. It no longer uses balloon tanks nor 1.5 staging, but incorporates a rigid framework for its first stage booster much like the Titan family of vehicles. The rigid fuselage is heavier, but easier to handle and transport, eliminating the need for constant internal pressure.

Ironically, given Atlas's origin as a military ICBM weapon against the Soviet/Russia, the Atlas III and Atlas V use Russian-designed/built Energomash RD-180 engines. These engines are now prepared for licence production by Pratt and Whitney company in the US.

Atlas EELV family of launch vehicles (US Govt).

Atlas launch vehicle evolution. (USAF).

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[Special]

[bio Karel J. Bossart]
[Karel Jan Bossart, Ir.]
[Atlas launch vehicle profile]
[1958 Video of "Atlas in Orbit" Newsreel]
[Atlas D] from Encyclopedia Astronautica
[Atlas ICBM History site]
[Atlas II - Lockheed Martin]

Atlas (missile)

History

Design

Current Atlas Family

External links

Related content