Atlas-Agena
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Atlas-Agena
 An Atlas-Agena launching Lunar Orbiter 4 |
|
| 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 | 119 |
| Successes | 103 |
| Failures | 13 |
| Partial failures | 3 |
| Maiden 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
| 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 | 0 | 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
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]
But 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, but was later aborted shortly after due to thruster malfunction. The Agena was later used as the secondary Agena target for Gemini 10.
References
- ^ Encyclopedia Astronautica - Atlas
- ^ Gunter's Space Page - Atlas Agena
- ^ "Gemini 6 Target - NSSDC ID: GEM6T". NASA GSFC. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=GEM6T.
- ^ Barton C. Hacker and James M. Grimwood (1977). "On The Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini - The Visitors". NASA. http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4203/ch12-7.htm.
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