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]

Atlas H
Launch of the last Atlas H with NOSS-9.
FunctionExpendable launch system
ManufacturerConvair
General Dynamics
Country of originUnited States
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesSLC-3E, Vandenberg
Total launches5
Success(es)5
First flight9 February 1983
Last flight15 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


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