Atlas A/B/D Credit - © Mark Wade

First test model of Atlas ICBM. Two booster engines, no sustainer, dummy warhead. 50% reliability in 8 flight tests.

Historical Essay © Andreas Parsch

Convair B-65/SM-65/CGM-16/HGM-16 Atlas

The Atlas was the first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) deployed by the USA. Its descendents are still in use today as civilian and military space launch vehicles.

The Atlas development can be traced back to the days immediately after World War II, when captured German rocket and missile technology supported many new missile research studies. In April 1946, Consolidated-Vultee (later Convair) began project MX-774 to study long-range ballistic missiles. The studies led to a test rocket, designated RTV-A-2 Hiroc, which was to pioneer several new design techniques which would later be used in the Atlas. The Hiroc featured a gimballed rocket nozzle to steer the vehicle by thrust-vectoring instead of weight- and drag-increasing control fins, and had a separable nose cone for the payload. The most radical feature of the RTV-A-2 was its internal pressure stabilized flight structure. The missile's skin was very thin, and was inflated by internal pressure like a balloon. This significantly reduced the empty weight of the vehicle. However, it also made the missile rather fragile, because a single hole in the skin would lead to the collapse of the whole structure, just like a limp balloon. Because limited funding allowed only to pursue the most promising missile projects, and long-range ballistic missiles were deemed to be too far in the future, MX-774 was cancelled in June 1947. However, Convair was allowed to complete three Hiroc vehicles, and the first of these flew in July 1948. All three flights were only partially successful but helped a lot to validate the new design concepts.

After the cancellation of MX-774, Convair continued low-key internal studies on ballistic missiles, developing the idea of the "one and one half" stage rocket. In this type of design, both booster and sustainer engine(s) would ignite at lift-off, and the boosters would be dropped later in the flight. This circumvented the difficulty of having to ignite the sustainer at high altitude, which was then considered a potential problem. When military funding sharply increased after outbreak of the Korean War, Convair was awarded a contract for the long-range ballistic missile project MX-1593 in January 1951. Later in 1951, the USAF decided to assign aircraft-like designations to its guided missiles, and the designation B-65 was assigned to the MX-1593 missile (named Atlas by this time).

In 1953 Convair had completed the initial design studies. The Atlas was to be a huge 27 m (90 ft) long, 3.6 m (12 ft) wide rocket, with five engines producting 2700+ kN (600000+ lb) of total thrust. The size was deemed necessary to launch the expected very heavy (65 ton) thermonuclear warhead to intercontinental range. Because of the limited accuracy of then available intercontinental guidance systems, a megaton-class thermonuclear warhead was necessary for the Atlas to be effective against hardened targets. A ten-year development program was approved, with an initial operational deployment planned for 1963. To minimize risk, it was decided to develop a single-engine test vehicle first, designated X-11, followed by a three-engine X-12 test vehicle and an XB-65 five-engine strategic missile prototype.

In 1954, the H-bomb tests in the Pacific showed that the warhead for the Atlas could be made significantly smaller and lighter than expected. Therefore, the five-engine XB-65 design was cancelled and replaced by a much smaller three-engine design. The booster engines were North American (Rocketdyne) LR89, and the sustainer engine was a Rocketdyne LR105 enigne, both fueled with RP-1 (kerosene) and liquid oxygen. Two small Rocketdyne LR101 vernier engines were used for fine-tuning thrust and directional control. The whole Atlas propulsion system was known as MA-2. In 1955, in the light of discovering Russian ICBM activities, the Atlas development was accelerated, and it was approved to flight test preliminary prototype models which lacked some feartures of the planned production missile. The XB-65A Atlas A had only booster engines, and a dummy warhead. In August 1955, the USAF dropped all aircraft-like designations for guided missiles, and the Atlas became the SM-65.

On 11 June 1957 the first attempt to fly an XSM-65A was made, but due to a booster malfunction the missile had to be destroyed a few seconds after lift-off. The first successful Atlas A flight to the full range of 1100 km (600 nm) was the third one, on 17 December 1957. Atlas A testing was completed in June 1958.

Manufacturer: Convair. Launches: 8. Failures: 5. Success Rate: 37.50%. First Launch Date: 1957-06-11. Last Launch Date: 1958-06-03. Launch data is: complete. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 1,334.500 kN (300,008 lbf). Total Mass: 81,647 kg (180,000 lb). Core Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Total Length: 28.00 m (91.00 ft). Maximum range: 900 km (550 mi). Development Cost $: 2,230.000 million. in: 1965 average dollars. Recurring Price $: 8.309 million. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 1.800 million. in: 1965 unit dollars. Cost comments: Development cost and flyaway cost total for Atlas A through F (ICBM's).

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: Atlas A. Gross Mass: 81,647 kg (180,000 lb). Empty Mass: 7,230 kg (15,930 lb). Thrust (vac): 1,517.412 kN (341,128 lbf). Isp: 282 sec. Burn time: 133 sec. Isp(sl): 248 sec. Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Span: 4.90 m (16.00 ft). Length: 23.17 m (76.01 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 2. Engine: XLR-89-1. Status: Out of production.

1945 October 31 - Launch Vehicle: Matador, Mace, Rascal, Snark, Atlas A, Navaho SSM-A-2.

• US Strategic Missile Programs Begin Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Request For Proposals were issued to 17 contractors by the US Army Air Force for studies of a 10-year R&D program of four missile types. The missiles were to be air-, rail-, road-, or ship- transportable, and fit in three range categories: 280 to 800 km; 800 to 2400 km; and 2400 to 8000 km. Minimum speed was 970 kph, requiring turbojet, ramjet, or rocket propulsion.References: 4460.

• Strategic Missile Proposals Nation: USA. Bids were received in response to the USAAF request for proposal of the previous October. Vultee submitted proposals for two types (glide and ballistic) of 8000-km range missiles. North American proposed a three-year development program for a supersonic 800-km range missile, culminating in a production run of 50 missiles.References: 4460.

• Army Air Force awards nine one-year missile study contracts. Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. The MX-770 contract for an 800-km range boost-glide missile derived from the German A9 concept went to North American; this would evolve into the Navaho triple-sonic intercontinental cruise missile. Martin received a contract for development of the MX-771, a subsonic ground-launched cruise missile with an 800-km range; it would evolve into the Matador and Mace missiles. Curtiss-Wright and Republic received contracts for the MX-772 and MX-773 surface-to-surface missiles; they never advanced beyond the initial study stage. Convair received the contract for long-range rocket-powered missiles; this evolved into the Atlas ICBM. Northrtop received the MX-775 contract for a 5000-km range cruise missile; this eventually flew as the Snark. Bell receives a contract to develop the MX-776, a 160-km range rocket-powered supersonic missile to be launched from B-29 bombers. This would evolve into the Rascal. McDonnell received a study contract for the MX-777 air-to-surface missile; this evolved into the anti-submarine 'hydrobomb' concept and was eventually transferred to the Navy. Goodyear received contracts for the MX-778 and MX-779 air-to-surface missiles; these never advanced beyond the preliminary study stage. Concurrently, the USAAF had the GARPA surface-to-air missile project underway, which would evolve into Bomarc; the USA Army the Corporal and Hermes (later Redstone) surface-to-surface missiles and the Nike and Hermes A1 surface-to-air missiles; and the Navy a range of missile technology development projects (Regulus, Bat, Kingfisher, Little Joe, Lark, Bumblebee, Gorgon, Dove).References: 221.

• MX-774 strategic missile study contract awarded Nation: USA. Convair received contract W33-038-AC-14168 for a $1.4 million, one-year study of two missile designs. References: 4460.

• MX-774 Azusa tracking Nation: USA. Study report submitted to Air Force on proposed Azusa tracking/guidance system. MX-774 funding cut back. References: 4460.

• MX-774 Azusa tracking tests Nation: USA. Tracking tests started with experimental Azusa equipment References: 4460.

• MX-774 cancelled. Nation: USA. Contract with Convair for the MX-774 "Upper Air Test Vehicle," predecessor of the Atlas ICBM, was cancelled by the AAF. However the service approves Convair use of unexpended MX-774 funds to launch the MX-774 test vehicles already built. The decision made to move Vultee operations to San Diego.References: 17, 4460.

• US Army Air Corps assigned control of surface-to-surface strategic missiles Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. References: 4460.

• U.S. Army Air Corps becomes U.S. Air Force Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. The Air Force was now a separate service from the US Army. The agreement was made that the Air Force would only handle missiles with ranges over 1600 km. So the range requirement for the MX-770 (later the Navaho) was increased to 1600 km, while carrying a 1350-kg payload with an 800 m CEP, and it became an Air Force missile. The 800-km MX-771 (later Matador) became an Army missile. The MX-775 Snark already had an intercontinental range requirement, and became an Air Force missile.References: 4460.

• First complete MX-774 moved to Pt. Loma for test Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• First static firing of MX-774 Nation: USA. Unsuccessful, small fire. References: 4460.

• Second MX-774 static firing Nation: USA. Successful, at Point Loma. References: 4460.

• MX-774 static firing tests at Pt Loma completed. Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• First MX-774 arrives at White Sands Proving Ground Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• Spaatz calls for American ICBM. Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. General Spaatz (Tooey Spaatz) calls for US development of missile with 10,200 km range References: 4460.

• All MX-774 work shut off by Air Force Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• MX-774 unexpended funds run out in 1950. Nation: USA. Convair allocated R&D funds to ICBM studies and marketing, running into 1950 References: 4460.

• RAND studies ICBM's. Nation: USA. Rand Corp. completed missile feasibility studies begun in 1949, which confirmed the military practicability of long-range rocket weapons. References: 17.

• Atlas tracking system. Nation: USA. Azusa tracking system reaching advanced stage of development References: 4460.

• Project MX-1593 (Project Atlas) begins. Nation: USA. Air Force established Project MX-1593 (Project Atlas), study phase for an intercontinental missile. Requirements included 8000-pound warhead, 5000 nautical mile range, to hit within 1500 ft. CEP. $1.5 million study contract was awarded to Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft on January 23. This was the follow-on to Project MX-774 terminated in 1947. Several test vehicles had been fired using residual funds in 1948 and 1949, after which the Convair MX-774 (Atlas) missile project had been shelved. The company, however, had continued to fund a research program.References: 17, 278.

• Atlas to be accelerated. Nation: USA. AF Gen. John Sessums proposes Atlas acceleration References: 4460.

• Atlas XB-65 configuration. Nation: USA. MX-1593 named "Project Atlas" as XB-65; 120 feet long, 12-foot diameter, 7 engines, 8000-pound warhead, CEP 1 nautical mile References: 4460.

• Atlas project to concentrate on ballistic missile. Nation: USA. MX-1593 glide missile cancelled. USAF directed all work in Project MX-1593 (Atlas) be for development of a rocket-powered ballistic missile. References: 17, 278.

• Reports of large Russian rocket engines Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• Reduced thermonuclear warhead size will allow American ICBM's to be smaller. Nation: USA. Atlas 3000-pound warhead anticipated, 1500-foot CEP References: 4460.

• Gen. Joseph McNarney joins Convair Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• Millikan Committee Report Nation: USA. Millikan Committee report issued, saying Atlas could be operational by 1963 References: 4460.

• Atlas size reduced. Nation: USA. Atlas 12-foot diameter, 110 feet long, 440,000 pounds, 3000-pound warhead, 5500 nautical mile range, 1500-foot CEP References: 4460.

• Defense Secretary Wilson institutes reviews of guided missiles' status Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• J.R. Dempsey joins Convair Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• Von Neumann's "Teapot Committee" established Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• Teapot Committee's first output Nation: USA. ICBM could use smaller warhead References: 4460.

• Convair leases test facility. Nation: USA. A five-year Pt. Loma lease was approved. References: 4460.

• Teapot Report Nation: USA. The ICBM design feasible, as was acceleration of the program; Rand Corporation Report: Atlas ICBM could be operational by 1960-62 and should have crash project status References: 4460.

• Atlas propulsion system work begins. Nation: USA. Work on MA-2 propulsion system for Atlas by Rocketdyne was begun, drawing upon the experience in developing the regeneratively cooled chamber developed for the Navaho. References: 17, 278.

• First Atlas hardware. Nation: USA. 12-foot diameter Atlas tank completed by Solar References: 4460.

• Operation Castle thermonuclear tests confirm feasibility of small warheads Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• First public indication that Project Atlas exists Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• Atlas receives high priority. Nation: USA. Highest AF development priority (and accelerated schedule) assigned Atlas References: 4460.

• Ramo-Woolridge to manage Atlas. Nation: USA. Ramo-Wooldridge given letter contract as Technical Director and Systems Integrator for Atlas program References: 4460.

• Schriever named head of Atlas program. Nation: USA. Brigadier-General Bernard A. Schriever, ARDC, assigned to head Atlas program References: 4460.

• Scientific Advisory Board recommendations rejected. Nation: USA. Scientific Advisory Board recommendations differing from Teapot Committee rejected References: 4460.

• Rocketdyne put on contract for Atlas engines. Nation: USA. Western Development Division (WDD) established by AF under ARDC to manage Atlas development; References: 4460.

• Western Development Division (WDD) established by USAF Nation: USA. Western Development Division (WDD) established by AF under ARDC to manage Atlas development; Rocketdyne put on contract for propulsion system References: 4460.

• First USAF WDD Facility Nation: USA. Inglewood "Schoolhouse" WDD facility established References: 4460.

• Atlas further reduced in size Nation: USA. Atlas size reduced from 12-foot to 10-foot diameter, with 3 large engines References: 4460.

• Atlas full-scale development Nation: USA. First major Atlas WS107A1 development and construction contract awarded Convair; CEP 2-3 NM, IOC by 1960-62 References: 4460.

• Atlas publicly announced. Nation: USA. USAF announced Atlas ICBM under construction by Convair. References: 17, 278.

• Atlas fabrication begins Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• Atlas given top development priority. Nation: USA. USAF Chief of Staff, Nathan F. Twining, reported that ICBM's were receiving priority in the AF program because of known Soviet progress. Navaho, Snark, and Atlas programs accelerated. References: 17, 278.

• New WDD complex Nation: USA. New WDD complex activated on Arbor Vitae Blvd. in Los Angeles References: 4460.

• Atlas program assigned top priority in the nation Nation: USA. Atlas program assigned top priority in the nation (was highest priority only for AF) References: 4460.

• Atlas production plant at Kearney Mesa Nation: USA. New Astronautics plant announced—$20 million funding by General Dynamics, with the Air Force to match, for tooling and special equipment References: 4460.

• Convair announced as the prime contractorfor the Atlas Nation: USA. The Air Force disclosed that a $41 million guided missile production facility would be built at Sorrento, California, for the Atlas launch vehicle. Convair was announced as the prime contractor. References: 483.

• Atlas ICBM first test firing Nation: USA. First captive Atlas first test firing. The 'battleship' missile was installed at test stand 1-4, Edwards Air Force Base. The test was a failure due to inadvertant closure of the fuel prevalve, leading to duct collapse, and a turbine overspeed cutoff. No damage was sustained and the first successful firing came the next day. Atlas, First successful captive test firing, June 22, 1956, Edwards Rocket Base, duration - 4 seconds. Successful.References: 498.

• Atlas ICBM first successful test firing Nation: USA. First successful captive test firing of the Atlas ICBM at Edwards Air Force Base, duration - 4 seconds. References: 498.

• First Atlas battleship tests Nation: USA. First system engine tests on ERB 1-4 battleship setup References: 4460.

• Atlas 1A Nation: USA. Missile 1A delivered to Sycamore for captive tests References: 4460.

• Scheduled design complete (95%) for Atlas A-series missiles Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• First Atlas firing, stand S-l, Sycamore Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• Atlas 1A destroyed in test. Nation: USA. Missile 1A burned on second run at S-l with stand damage References: 4460.

• First flight Atlas missile, 4A, delivered, and shipped to AMR Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• Atlas 4A erected on AMR LC-14 Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• WDD renamed Ballistic Missiles Division (BMD) Nation: USA. References: 4460.

• Research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 2.00 km (1.20 mi). First test flight of prototype WS-107A Atlas was detonated by command signal at 10,000 feet following a failure in the booster fuel system. The 23-second flight was considered a partial success. References: 17, 278, 1811.

• Research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi). Atlas was again destroyed by command signal at three minutes into flight following a failure in the booster fuel system. The 50-second active flight was considered a partial success. References: 48, 278, 1811.

• Research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). First successful test firing of USAF Atlas ICBM, the missile landing in the target area after a flight of 600 miles. References: 17, 278, 1811.

• Research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). A successful limited flight was made by the fourth Atlas fired from Cape Canaveral. References: 1811.

• Research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). References: 1811.

• Research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). References: 1811.

• Research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). USAF Atlas A ICBM was successfully flown from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to the impact area some 600 miles away. References: 17, 278, 1811.

• Research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Last Atlas A flight, considered fully successful. Four of the eight flights were considered successful. References: 48, 278, 1811.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• Koelle, Heinz Hermann,, Handbook of Astronautical Engineering, McGraw-Hill,New York, 1961. The only such comprehensive handbook ever produced, and at the dawn of the space age.

• Nicholas, Ted G., U.S. Missile Data Book, 1983, Seventh Edition, Data Search Associates, Fountain Valley, California, 1982..

• Parsch, Andreas, DesignationSystems.Net, . Outstanding, unique reference for aircraft, missiles, propulsion, and avionics systems. Accessed at: http://www.designation-systems.net/.

• Walker, Chuck, with Powell, Joel, Atlas - The Ultimate Weapon, Apogee Books, Canada, 2005. ISBN: 1894959183. Another excellent Apogee Book, the only in-depth account of the design, development, and production of the rocket that was America's first ICBM, pioneered US spaceflight, and continued to take payloads into orbit into the next millenium. More at amazon.com...