Atlas-Able
The Atlas-Able was an American expendable launch system derived from the SM-65 Atlas missile. It was a member of the Atlas family of rockets, and was used to launch several Pioneer spacecraft towards the Moon. Of the five Atlas-Able rockets built, two failed during static firings, and the other three failed to reach orbit.[1]
Manufacturer | Convair Division of General Dynamics |
---|---|
Country of origin | United States |
Size | |
Height | 28 m (91 ft) |
Diameter | 3.05 m (10 ft) |
Payload to Trans-lunar injection | 170 kg (370 lb) |
Launch history | |
Status | Retired |
Launch sites | LC-12, 13 & 14, Cape Canaveral |
Total launches | 3 |
Failure(s) | 3 |
First flight | 26 November 1959 |
Last flight | 15 December 1960 |
The Atlas-Able was a three-and-a-half-stage rocket, with a stage-and-a-half Atlas missile as the first stage, an Able second stage, and an Altair third stage.[2]
The first Atlas-Able used an Atlas C as the first stage,[3] and was intended to carry Pioneer P-1, but exploded during a static fire test on 24 September 1959.[4]
The remaining Pioneer launches used Atlas D missiles. Launches were conducted from Launch Complexes 12 and 14 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. One launch was planned from Launch Complex 13; this became the second Atlas-Able to be destroyed during a static firing, and hence never launched.[1]
Launches
Number | Mission | Orbit | Launch Site | Outcome | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pioneer P-3 | TLI | LC-14 | Failure | |
The Payload fairing broke up at 45 seconds after liftoff, causing loss of the upper stage and payload.[6] | |||||
2 | Pioneer P-30 | TLI | LC-12 | Failure | |
A propellant feed on the second stage had a malfunction.[7] | |||||
3 | Pioneer P-31 | TLI | LC-12 | Failure | |
Vibration and/or debris from the Able adapter section ruptured the liquid oxygen tank of Atlas, causing an explosion.[8] |
References
- Encyclopedia Astronautica - Atlas
- Gunter's Space Page - Atlas-D Able
- Gunter's Space Page - Atlas-C Able
- Space Review, The Pioneer lunar orbiters: a forgotten failure, by Andrew J. LePage, Monday, December 13, 2010
- "Atlas-Able". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
- "Atlas-D Able | Pioneer P-3". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
- "Atlas-D Able | Pioneer P-30". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
- "Atlas-D Able | Pioneer P-31". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2022-02-18.