Atlas-Agena
 An Atlas-Agena launching Lunar Orbiter 4 |
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| Function | Expendable launch system |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Convair General Dynamics |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | LC-12, 13 & 14, CCAFS SLC-3 & 4, Vandenberg |
| Total launches | 109 |
| Successes | 93 |
| Failures | 13 |
| Partial failures | 3 |
| First flight | 26 February 1960 |
| Last flight | 27 June 1978 |
The Atlas-Agena 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 for 119 orbital launches between 1960 and 1978.[1]
The Atlas-Agena was a two-and-a-half stage rocket, with a stage-and-a-half Atlas missile as the first stage, and an RM-81 Agena second stage. Initially, Atlas D missiles, redesignated as the LV-3, were used as the first stage[2] These were later replaced by the standardised Atlas SLV-3, and its derivatives, the SLV-3A and B. The final Atlas-Agena launch used an Atlas E/F.
Launches were conducted from Launch Complexes 12, 13 and 14 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and Launch Complexes 1 and 2 at Point Arguello (now SLC-3 and 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base).
Variants [edit]
| Name | First launch | Last launch | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas LV-3 Agena-A | 1960-02-26 | 1961-01-31 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Atlas LV-3 Agena-B | 1961-07-12 | 1965-03-21 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 2 | |
| Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 1963-07-12 | 1965-07-20 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 1964-08-14 | 1967-11-05 | 47 | 41 | 5 | 1 | |
| Atlas SLV-3B Agena-D | 1966-04-08 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B | 1966-06-07 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Atlas SLV-3A Agena-D | 1968-03-04 | 1978-04-08 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | |
| Atlas E/F Agena D | 1978-06-27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
Notable launches [edit]
On 1965-10-25 the Agena stage of an Atlas-Agena D failed to orbit the first Gemini Agena Target Vehicle (GATV), which was planned for use as the rendezvous target for the Gemini 6 mission.[3] The failure of the GATV launch led NASA to instead have Gemini 6 rendezvous with another piloted spacecraft, Gemini 7.[4]
Later on March 16, 1965 the Agena target vehicle for Gemini 8 was successful resulting with Gemini 8 performing the first successful docking in space; it was aborted shortly after due to thruster malfunction. The Agena was later used as the secondary Agena target for Gemini 10.
References [edit]
- ^ Encyclopedia Astronautica - Atlas
- ^ Gunter's Space Page - Atlas Agena
- ^ "Gemini 6 Target - NSSDC ID: GEM6T". NASA GSFC.
- ^ Barton C. Hacker and James M. Grimwood (1977). "On The Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini - The Visitors". NASA.
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