Atlas H
The Atlas H was an American expendable launch system derived from the SM-65 Atlas missile.[1] It was a member of the Atlas family of rockets, and was used to launch five clusters of NOSS satellites for the US National Reconnaissance Office.[1] Two flights also carried LiPS satellites, as secondary payloads for the United States Naval Research Laboratory.[1]
![]() Launch of the last Atlas H with NOSS-9. | |
Function | Expendable launch system |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Convair General Dynamics |
Country of origin | United States |
Launch history | |
Status | Retired |
Launch sites | SLC-3E, Vandenberg |
Total launches | 5 |
Success(es) | 5 |
First flight | 9 February 1983 |
Last flight | 15 May 1987 |
The Atlas H was a stage and a half rocket, using the enhanced Atlas rocket designed for use as the first stage of the Atlas G rocket,[2] which differed from the Atlas H in having a Centaur upper stage. This stage was later reused as the first stage of the Atlas I. In practice, an MSD upper stage was flown on all five launches.[3]
Atlas H could put a payload of 3,630 kg (8,000 lb) into low Earth orbit, or a payload of 2,255 kg (4,971 lb) into a geostationary transfer orbit.[1]
Launches
The Atlas H was launched five times from Vandenberg SLC3E:[1]
Date | Mission | Mass | Apogee | Perigee | Inclination |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1983 February 9 | NOSS 4 - PARCAE 5 / OPS 0252 | 700 kg (1,540 lb) | 1,186 km (736 mi) | 1,063 km (660 mi) | 63.40 deg |
SSB - SSU | 700 kg (1,540 lb) | 1,489 km (925 mi) | 733 km (456 mi) | 63.40 deg | |
SSD (NOSS 4) - NOSS-Subsat 4-4 | 1,419 km (881 mi) | 796 km (494 mi) | 63.40 deg | ||
SSC - SSU | 1,173 km (728 mi) | 1,043 km (648 mi) | 63.50 deg | ||
SSA - SSU | 1,166 km (724 mi) | 1,051 km (653 mi) | 63.40 deg | ||
SSA (NOSS 4) - NOSS-Subsat 4-1 / OPS 0252 DEB | 1,164 km (723 mi) | 1,051 km (653 mi) | 63.50 deg | ||
LIPS 2 | 1,399 km (869 mi) | 822 km (510 mi) | 63.30 deg | ||
1983 June 9 | NOSS 5 - PARCAE 6 / OPS 6432 | 700 kg (1,540 lb) | 1,167 km (725 mi) | 1,049 km (651 mi) | 63.40 deg |
GB1 - SSU | 1,167 km (725 mi) | 1,049 km (651 mi) | 63.40 deg | ||
GB3 - SSU | 1,166 km (724 mi) | 1,049 km (651 mi) | 63.40 deg | ||
GB2 - SSU | 1,167 km (725 mi) | 1,049 km (651 mi) | 63.40 deg | ||
1984 February 5 | NOSS 6 - PARCAE 7 / OPS 8737 | 700 kg (1,540 lb) | 1,172 km (728 mi) | 1,052 km (653 mi) | 63.40 deg |
JD1 - SSU | 1,172 km (728 mi) | 1,052 km (653 mi) | 63.40 deg | ||
JD2 - SSU | 1,172 km (728 mi) | 1,052 km (653 mi) | 63.40 deg | ||
JD3 - SSU | 1,172 km (728 mi) | 1,052 km (653 mi) | 63.40 deg | ||
1986 February 9 | USA 15 - PARCAE 8 | 700 kg (1,540 lb) | 1,166 km (724 mi) | 1,049 km (651 mi) | 63.00 deg |
USA 18 - SSU | 1,407 km (874 mi) | 817 km (508 mi) | 63.41 deg | ||
USA 16 - SSU | 1,161 km (721 mi) | 1,055 km (655 mi) | 63.00 deg | ||
USA 17 - SSU | 1,165 km (723 mi) | 1,055 km (655 mi) | 63.00 deg | ||
1987 May 15 | USA 22 - PARCAE 9 | 700 kg (1,540 lb) | 1,179 km (732 mi) | 1,045 km (649 mi) | 62.90 deg |
LIPS 3 | 1,316 km (817 mi) | 899 km (558 mi) | 63.40 deg | ||
USA 25 - SSU | 1,178 km (731 mi) | 1,035 km (643 mi) | 62.60 deg | ||
USA 24 - SSU | 1,184 km (735 mi) | 1,046 km (649 mi) | 63.20 deg | ||
USA 23 - SSU | 1,170 km (720 mi) | 1,039 km (645 mi) | 63.40 deg |
References
- "Atlas H". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- Encyclopedia Astronautica - Atlas
- Gunter's Space Page - Atlas-H MSD