Atlas-Able

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]

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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

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References

  1. "Atlas-Able". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  2. "Atlas-D Able | Pioneer P-3". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  3. "Atlas-D Able | Pioneer P-30". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  4. "Atlas-D Able | Pioneer P-31". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2022-02-18.

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