Atlas G Media Gallery

Atlas-Centaur launch vehicles using stretched, uprated Atlas core.

Manufacturer: Convair. Launches: 7. Failures: 2. Success Rate: 71.43%. First Launch Date: 1984-06-09. Last Launch Date: 1989-09-25. Launch data is: complete. LEO Payload: 3,630 kg (8,000 lb). to: 185 km Orbit. Payload: 2,255 kg (4,971 lb). to a: Geosynchronous transfer trajectory. Apogee: 40,000 km (24,000 mi). Associated Spacecraft: Fltsatcom, Intelsat 5, Intelsat 5A. Liftoff Thrust: 1,939.300 kN (435,972 lbf). Total Mass: 166,140 kg (366,270 lb). Core Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Total Length: 38.00 m (124.00 ft). Launch Price $: 75.000 million. in: 1994 price dollars. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 70.300 million. in: 1985 unit dollars.

• Stage Number: 0. 1 x Stage: Atlas MA-5. Gross Mass: 3,646 kg (8,038 lb). Empty Mass: 3,646 kg (8,038 lb). Thrust (vac): 1,896.010 kN (426,240 lbf). Isp: 294 sec. Burn time: 174 sec. Isp(sl): 259 sec. Diameter: 4.90 m (16.00 ft). Span: 4.90 m (16.00 ft). Length: 0.00 m ( ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 2. Engine: LR-89-7. Status: Out of production.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: Atlas G/H/I. Gross Mass: 142,536 kg (314,238 lb). Empty Mass: 4,236 kg (9,338 lb). Thrust (vac): 386.300 kN (86,844 lbf). Isp: 316 sec. Burn time: 266 sec. Isp(sl): 220 sec. Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Span: 4.90 m (16.00 ft). Length: 22.20 m (72.80 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: LR-105-7. Status: Out of production.

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: Centaur I. Gross Mass: 15,600 kg (34,300 lb). Empty Mass: 1,700 kg (3,700 lb). Thrust (vac): 146.800 kN (33,002 lbf). Isp: 444 sec. Burn time: 402 sec. Isp(sl): 0 sec. Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Span: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Length: 9.15 m (30.01 ft). Propellants: Lox/LH2. No Engines: 2. Engine: RL-10A-3A. Status: Out of production.

1984 June 9 - 23:03 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Pad: LC36B. Launch Vehicle: Atlas G. Model: Atlas G Centaur. LV Configuration: Atlas G Centaur AC-62 / Centaur D-1AR 5042G. FAILURE: Centaur structural failure.

• Intelsat 5 F-9 Nation: International. Program: Intelsat. Mass: 1,091 kg (2,405 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Intelsat 5. Agency: Intelsat. Perigee: 180 km (110 mi). Apogee: 1,227 km (762 mi). Inclination: 29.20 deg. Period: 98.90 min. COSPAR: 1984-057A. USAF Sat Cat: 15034. Decay Date: 1984-10-24. Failure of Centaur upper stage left stranded in useless orbit. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle was to have put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit References: 1, 2, 5, 6, 278.

• Intelsat 5A F-10 Nation: International. Program: Intelsat. Mass: 2,013 kg (4,437 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Intelsat 5A. Agency: Intelsat. Perigee: 36,237 km (22,516 mi). Apogee: 36,468 km (22,660 mi). Inclination: 7.20 deg. Period: 1,465.10 min. COSPAR: 1985-025A. USAF Sat Cat: 15629. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 24 deg W in 1985-1990; 174 deg E in 1990-1994; 66 deg E in 1994-1995; 57 deg E in 1995-1996; 33 deg E in 1996-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 135.23 deg W drifting at 7.152 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 107.21W drifting at 7.157W degrees per day.References: 1, 2, 5, 6, 278.

• Intelsat 5A F-11 Nation: International. Program: Intelsat. Mass: 1,098 kg (2,420 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Intelsat 5A. Agency: Intelsat. Perigee: 35,773 km (22,228 mi). Apogee: 35,799 km (22,244 mi). Inclination: 0.70 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 1985-055A. USAF Sat Cat: 15873. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 27 deg W in 1985-1990; 63 deg E in 1990-1992; 177 deg E in 1992-1994; 180 deg E in 1994-1997; 29 deg W in 1998-1999 As of 4 September 2001 located at 29.54 deg W drifting at 0.005 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 113.07W drifting at 0.696W degrees per day.References: 1, 2, 5, 6, 278.

• Intelsat 5A F-12 Nation: International. Program: Intelsat. Mass: 1,096 kg (2,416 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Intelsat 5A. Agency: Intelsat. Perigee: 36,086 km (22,422 mi). Apogee: 36,140 km (22,450 mi). Inclination: 6.20 deg. Period: 1,452.80 min. COSPAR: 1985-087A. USAF Sat Cat: 16101. Completed Operations Date: 1998-06-23. Telephone communications; 31 deg E. Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 60 deg E in 1985-1989; 1 deg W in 1989-1994; 21 deg W in 1994-1996; 56 deg W in 1996-1998 As of 28 August 2001 located at 145.57 deg E drifting at 4.159 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 19.14E drifting at 4.163W degrees per day.References: 1, 2, 5, 6, 278.

• USA 20 Nation: USA. Payload: Fltsatcom 7. Mass: 2,310 kg (5,090 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Fltsatcom. Agency: USN. Perigee: 35,740 km (22,200 mi). Apogee: 35,832 km (22,264 mi). Inclination: 0.90 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 1986-096A. USAF Sat Cat: 17181. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 100 deg W in 1987-1999 Last known longitude (27 July 1999) 100.33 deg W drifting at 0.027 deg W per day.References: 1, 2, 5, 6, 278.

• Fltsatcom 6 Nation: USA. Payload: Fltsatcom 6. Mass: 2,300 kg (5,000 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Fltsatcom. Agency: U.S. Navy. COSPAR: F870326A. Decay Date: 1987-03-26. References: 5, 278.

• USA 46 Nation: USA. Payload: Fltsatcom 8. Mass: 2,310 kg (5,090 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Fltsatcom. Agency: USN. Perigee: 35,777 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,797 km (22,243 mi). Inclination: 4.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 1989-077A. USAF Sat Cat: 20253. Last in series of 8. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 23 deg W in 1989-1999.References: 1, 2, 5, 6, 278.

• 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.

• Isakowitz, Steven J,, International Reference to Space Launch Systems Second Edition, AIAA, Washington DC, 1991 (succeeded by 2000 edition). ISBN: 1563473534. Superseded by the later editions. More at amazon.com...

• Wilson, Andrew, editor,, Jane's/Interavia Space Directory, Jane's Information Group, Coulsdon, Surrey, 1992 et al. ISBN: 0710618107. The most comprehensive source of information for current space projects. Too expensive for human beings and most libraries. More at amazon.com...

• Lockheed Martin Coporation, Atlas Family Fact Sheets, September 1998.. Accessed at: http://www.lmco.com/ILS/txtmain/ils_lsysinfo.htm.

• 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...