Atlas V

Launch of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, 11:43:00 AM GMT August 12, 2005 on the first Atlas V rocket used by NASA. The rocket is in the 401 configuration.
Fact sheet
Function	EELV/Medium-heavy launch vehicle
Manufacturer	United Launch Alliance
Country of origin	USA
Size
Height	58.3 m (191.2 ft)
Diameter	3.81 m (12.49 ft)
Mass	546,700 kg (1,205,200 lb)
Stages	2
	Capacity
Payload to LEO	10,300 - 20,050 kg
Payload to GTO	4,100 - 8,200 kg
Launch History
Status	Active
Launch Sites	LC-41, CCAFS SLC-3W, Vandenberg AFB
Total launches	8 For breakdown by variant, see text
Successes	8
Maiden flight	21 August 2002
Notable payloads	Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter New Horizons
Boosters (Not Heavy) - Aerojet
No boosters	1 to 5 (see text)
Engines	1 Solid
Thrust	1,270 kN (4,152 kN)
Specific Impulse	275 sec
Burn time	94 seconds
Fuel	Solid
Boosters (Atlas V Heavy (5HX)) - Atlas CCB
No boosters	2
Engines	1 RD-180
Thrust	(933,406 lbf)
Specific Impulse	311 sec
Burn time	253 seconds
Fuel	RP-1/LOX
First Stage - Atlas CCB
Engines	1 RD-180
Thrust	4,152 kN (933,406 lbf)
Specific Impulse	311 sec
Burn time	253 seconds
Fuel	RP-1/LOX
Second Stage (Atlas V XX1) - Centaur
Engines	1 RL-10A
Thrust	99.2 kN (22,290 lbf)
Specific Impulse	451 sec
Burn time	842 seconds
Fuel	LH2/LOX
Second Stage (Atlas V XX2) - Centaur
Engines	2 RL-10A
Thrust	147 kN (22,290 lbf)
Specific Impulse	449 sec
Burn time	421 seconds
Fuel	LH2/LOX

Atlas V is a launch vehicle formerly built by Lockheed Martin and now built by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance in Decatur, Alabama. It consists of a kerosene-liquid oxygen powered booster which retains the name Atlas and the liquid hydrogen - liquid oxygen powered Centaur upper stage. Together they are referred to as the Atlas launch vehicle or Atlas V. The Atlas V is the newest version of Atlas, and is a direct evolution from the previous Atlas II and especially the Atlas III vehicles. Most propulsion, avionic and structural elements are either identical to or straightforward derivations of those used on the previous vehicles. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a multipurpose spacecraft designed to conduct reconnaissance and exploration of Mars from orbit. ... The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program was a United States government, primarily a Department of Defense–sponsored effort to develop at least one family of space launch vehicles, that would meet the long term needs of the military. ... Rockets (including missiles) can be launched from the following: for a launch into an orbital spaceflight and beyond: a launch pad, including a floating platform (see San Marco platform, Sea Launch) for the launch into a suborbital flight also: a missile silo a mobile launcher vehicle a submarine air launch... United Launch Alliance is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. ... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The U.S. National Prototype Kilogram, which currently serves as the primary standard for measuring mass in the U.S. It was assigned to the United States in 1889 and is periodically recertified and traceable to the primary international standard, The Kilogram, held at the Bureau International des Poids et... The pound (abbreviations: lb or, sometimes in the United States, #) is a unit of mass in a number of different systems, including various systems of units of mass that formed part of English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... In cargo transport, the payload is the valuable contents of the vehicle. ... A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ... A geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is a Hohmann transfer orbit around the Earth between a low Earth orbit (LEO) and a geostationary orbit (GEO). ... An aerial view of LC-41. ... The Bumper V-2 was the first missile launched at Cape Canaveral on July 24, 1950. ... Vandenburg Air Force Bases Space Launch Complex 3 (SLC-3) was the first launch platform for the Atlas rocket system. ... Vandenberg Air Force Base is a base with a spaceport, located in Santa Barbara County, California. ... August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a multipurpose spacecraft designed to conduct reconnaissance and exploration of Mars from orbit. ... New Horizons is a NASA unmanned mission to fly by Pluto and its moons. ... Aerojet is a major rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer based primarily in Sacramento, California with divisions in Redmond, Washington, Orange, VA, Gainesville, VA, and Camden, AK. Their products include a wide range of propulsion, from main engines used on a number of NASA vehicles and ballistic missiles, down to stationkeeping... The Space Shuttle is initially launched with the help of solid-fuel boosters A Solid rocket or a solid fuel rocket is a rocket with a motor that uses solid propellants (fuel/oxidizer). ... The newton (symbol: N) is the SI unit of force. ... The newton (symbol: N) is the SI unit of force. ... The specific impulse (commonly abbreviated Isp) of a propulsion system is the impulse (change in momentum) per unit mass of propellant. ... The Space Shuttle is initially launched with the help of solid-fuel boosters A Solid rocket or a solid fuel rocket is a rocket with a motor that uses solid propellants (fuel/oxidizer). ... CCB is an acronym that can stand for: Calcium Channel Blocker China Construction Bank Configuration Control Board This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation page—a list of articles associated with the same title. ... The RD-180 is a dual-bell, Russian-developed rocket engine which is essentially a cut-down version of a larger Russian engine with four bells. ... The pound-force is a non-SI unit of force or weight (properly abbreviated lbf or lbf). The pound-force is equal to a mass of one pound multiplied by the standard acceleration due to gravity on Earth (which is defined as exactly 9. ... The specific impulse (commonly abbreviated Isp) of a propulsion system is the impulse (change in momentum) per unit mass of propellant. ... RP-1 (refined petroleum) is a highly refined form of kerosene similar to jet fuel, used in the United States as a rocket fuel. ... Lox can stand for any of several things: Lox (salmon) - a type of salmon produce LOx (oxidizer) - liquid oxygen used as oxidizer in aerospace The Lox - was a Yonkers, NY-based rap trio This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ... CCB is an acronym that can stand for: Calcium Channel Blocker China Construction Bank Configuration Control Board This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation page—a list of articles associated with the same title. ... The RD-180 is a dual-bell, Russian-developed rocket engine which is essentially a cut-down version of a larger Russian engine with four bells. ... Thrust is a reaction force described quantitatively by Newtons Second and Third Law. ... The newton (symbol: N) is the SI unit of force. ... The pound-force is a non-SI unit of force or weight (properly abbreviated lbf or lbf). The pound-force is equal to a mass of one pound multiplied by the standard acceleration due to gravity on Earth (which is defined as exactly 9. ... The specific impulse (commonly abbreviated Isp) of a propulsion system is the impulse (change in momentum) per unit mass of propellant. ... RP-1 (refined petroleum) is a highly refined form of kerosene similar to jet fuel, used in the United States as a rocket fuel. ... Lox can stand for any of several things: Lox (salmon) - a type of salmon produce LOx (oxidizer) - liquid oxygen used as oxidizer in aerospace The Lox - was a Yonkers, NY-based rap trio This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Model of Centaur with Surveyor as payload. ... RL-10 Rocket Engine Specifications. ... The specific impulse (commonly abbreviated Isp) of a propulsion system is the impulse (change in momentum) per unit mass of propellant. ... LH2 is an acronym used in the aerospace industry, which stands for liquid hydrogen. ... Lox can stand for any of several things: Lox (salmon) - a type of salmon produce LOx (oxidizer) - liquid oxygen used as oxidizer in aerospace The Lox - was a Yonkers, NY-based rap trio This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Model of Centaur with Surveyor as payload. ... RL-10 Rocket Engine Specifications. ... The specific impulse (commonly abbreviated Isp) of a propulsion system is the impulse (change in momentum) per unit mass of propellant. ... LH2 is an acronym used in the aerospace industry, which stands for liquid hydrogen. ... Lox can stand for any of several things: Lox (salmon) - a type of salmon produce LOx (oxidizer) - liquid oxygen used as oxidizer in aerospace The Lox - was a Yonkers, NY-based rap trio This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Rockets (including missiles) can be launched from the following: for a launch into an orbital spaceflight and beyond: a launch pad, including a floating platform (see San Marco platform, Sea Launch) for the launch into a suborbital flight also: a missile silo a mobile launcher vehicle a submarine air launch... Lockheed/BAE/Northrop F-35 Lockheed Trident missile C-130 Hercules; in production since the 1950s, now as the C-130J Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is an aerospace manufacturer formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. ... Lockheed/BAE/Northrop F-35 Lockheed Trident missile C-130 Hercules; in production since the 1950s, now as the C-130J Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is an aerospace manufacturer formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is an aerospace and defense corporation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. ... United Launch Alliance is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. ... Decatur, Alabama is a city in Morgan County, Alabama, with a small portion in southern Limestone County. ... Model of Centaur with Surveyor as payload. ... Mercury Atlas 9 rocket and capsule on pad The Atlas is a venerable line of space launch vehicles built by Lockheed Martin. ... Mission Atlas II is a member of the Atlas family of launch vehicles, which evolved from the successful Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program. ... The maiden flight of the Atlas III The Lockheed Martin Atlas III was an American orbital launch vehicle, used between 2000 and 2005. ...

The most obvious external change is to the booster tanks, which no longer use 10 foot diameter, stainless steel monocoque, common intermediate bulkhead "balloon" construction nor 1.5 staging, but instead use a 12.5 foot diameter welded aluminum alloy construction first stage much like the Titan family of vehicles or Shuttle External Tank. A single-stage to orbit (or SSTO) vehicle could reach orbital velocity without using multiple stages. ... The second stage of a Minuteman III rocket A multistage (or multi-stage) rocket is, like any rocket, propelled by the recoil pressure of the burning gases it emits as it burns fuel. ... Titan was a family of U.S. expendable rockets used between 1959 and 2005. ...

The Atlas V was developed by Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services as part of the US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. The term "expendable launch vehicle" means it is only used once. Launches are from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. In addition, Space Launch Complex 3 East at Vandenberg Air Force Base is being prepared for future polar launches. The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program was a United States government, primarily a Department of Defense–sponsored effort to develop at least one family of space launch vehicles, that would meet the long term needs of the military. ... An expendable launch system is a single-use launch vehicle usually used to launch a payload into space. ... An aerial view of LC-41. ... The Bumper V-2 was the first missile launched at Cape Canaveral on July 24, 1950. ... Vandenberg Air Force Base is a base with a spaceport, located in Santa Barbara County, California. ... A satellite in a polar orbit passes above or nearly above both poles of the planet (or other celestial body) on each revolution. ...

To date, all eight Atlas V launches to date have been successful. The Atlas V family uses a single-stage Atlas main engine, the Russian RD-180 and the newly developed Common Core Booster (CCB) with up to five Aerojet made strap-on solid rocket boosters. The CCB is 12.5 ft (3.8 m) in diameter by 106.6 ft (32.5 m) long and uses 627,105 lb (284,450 kg) of liquid oxygen and RP-1 rocket fuel propellants. The booster operates for about four minutes, providing about 4 meganewtons (900,000 lbf) of thrust at start. The RD-180 is a dual-bell, Russian-developed rocket engine which is essentially a cut-down version of a larger Russian engine with four bells. ... Common Core Booster (CCB) is the modular liquid fuelled first stage of the Atlas V expendable launch system. ... NASA Image of the final solid rocket booster (right) being mated to a Delta II rocket (blue). ... RP-1 (refined petroleum) is a highly refined form of kerosene similar to jet fuel, used in the United States as a rocket fuel. ... The newton (symbol: N) is the SI unit of force. ...

The Centaur upper stage uses a pressure stabilized propellant tank design and cryogenic propellants. The Centaur stage for Atlas V is stretched 5.5 ft (1.68 m) and is powered by either one or two Pratt & Whitney RL10A-4-2 engines, each engine developing a thrust of 99.2 kN (22,300 lbf). Operational and reliability upgrades are enabled with the RL10A-4-2 engine configuration. The inertial navigation unit (INU) located on the Centaur provides guidance and navigation for both Atlas and Centaur, and controls both Atlas and Centaur tank pressures and propellant use. The Centaur engines are capable of multiple in-space starts, making possible insertion into low-earth parking orbit, followed by a coast period and then insertion into GTO. A subsequent third burn following a multi-hour coast can permit direct injection of payloads into geostationary orbit. The Centaur vehicle has the highest proportion of burnable propellant relative to total mass of any modern upper stage and hence can deliver substantial payloads to a high energy state. Pratt & Whitney is an American aircraft engine manufacturer whose products are widely used in both civil and military aircraft. ... An inertial guidance system consists of an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) combined with a set of guidance algorithms and control mechanisms, allowing the path of a vehicle to be controlled according to the position determined by the inertial navigation system. ...

Many systems on the Atlas V have been the subject of upgrade and enhancement both prior to the first Atlas V flight and since that time. An upgrade to a Fault Tolerant INU (FTINU) was recently made to enhance mission reliability for Atlas vehicles.

The Atlas V-Heavy or HLV configuration is available 30 months from order. It would use three CCB stages strapped together to provide the capability necessary to lift the heaviest spacecraft. Approximately 95% of the hardware required for the Atlas HLV has already been flown on the Atlas V single core vehicles.

On Atlas V, in addition to the classic 4-meter payload fairing used since the Atlas II, Lockheed Martin introduced a 5-meter (4.57 meters usable) Contraves payload fairing. The Contraves fairing is a composite design and is based on flight proven hardware. Three configurations will be manufactured to support Atlas V. The short and medium length configurations will be used on the Atlas V 500 series. The long configuration will be used on the Atlas V-Heavy. [1] The classic fairing covers only the payload, leaving the Centaur stage exposed to open air. With the Contraves fairing, the Centaur is enclosed within the fairing as well as the payload. The wing root of a simple aircraft, an American Aviation AA-1 Yankee, showing a wing root fairing An aircraft wheel fairing, commonly called a wheel pant or, by some manufacturers, a speed fairing. ... Mission Atlas II is a member of the Atlas family of launch vehicles, which evolved from the successful Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program. ...

Versions

Core stage of an Atlas V being raised to a vertical position.

Each Atlas booster has a three digit version designation that is determined by the features of the rocket. The first digit is the diameter (in meters) of the nosecone fairing, and is always either three, four or five. The second digit is the number of solid rocket boosters attached to the base of the rocket, and can number anywhere from zero through three with the 4-m fairing and zero through five with the 5-m fairing. The third digit is the number of engines on the Centaur stage, either one or two. Single-engine Centaurs are typically used for satellites going to geostationary transfer orbit or reaching escape velocity. Dual engine Centaurs are typically used for satellites reaching low Earth orbit. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2000x3008, 542 KB) Core stage of an Atlas V rocket being raised to a vertical position at Cape Canaveral on May 6, 2005 (NASA) original description: At Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the first stage... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2000x3008, 542 KB) Core stage of an Atlas V rocket being raised to a vertical position at Cape Canaveral on May 6, 2005 (NASA) original description: At Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the first stage... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ... A geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is a Hohmann transfer orbit around the Earth between a low Earth orbit (LEO) and a geostationary orbit (GEO). ... Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on mission STS-71 In physics, for a given gravitational field and a given position, the escape velocity is the minimum speed an object without propulsion, at that position, needs to have to move away indefinitely from the source of the field, as opposed to falling... A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ...

For example, if the Atlas V version is 552, this means that the fairing is five meters, has five solid rocket boosters, and has two Centaur engines.

If the Atlas V version is 431, this means that the fairing is four meters, has three solid rocket boosters, and has a single Centaur engine.

Comparable rockets: Delta IV - Ariane 5 - Chang Zheng 5 - Angara - Proton - Falcon 9 It has been suggested that some sections of this article be split into a new article entitled Delta IV launches. ... Ariane 5 mock-up Ariane 5 is a European expendable launch system designed to deliver satellites into geostationary transfer orbit and to send payloads to Low Earth orbit. ... Designed and developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), Long March 5 (LM-5, CZ-5, or Changzheng 5) is Chinas next generation space launch vehicle family, which would include a range of classes of launch vehicles for different missions. ... The Angara rocket is a planned space-launch vehicle, designed to place heavy payloads into orbit. ... The Proton (Прото́н) rocket (formal designation: UR-500, also known as D-1/ D-1e or SL-12/SL-13) is a Russian unmanned space vehicle design, first launched in 1965. ... The Falcon 9 is an EELV class launch vehicle to be built by SpaceX. Three variants are proposed and, if built, will provide payloads of between 8,700 kg and 24,750 kg to low Earth orbit, and between 3,100 kg and 9,650 kg to Geostationary transfer orbit. ...

An agreement between Lockheed and Bigelow Aerospace in September 2006 could lead to a human-rated version of the Atlas V to tap into the potential space tourism market.^[1] Bigelow Aerospace is a Las Vegas, Nevada space technology startup company that is pioneering work on expandable space station modules. ... Man-rating or Man-rated is a term used to describe the certification of a rocket or airplane as worthy of transporting humans. ... The curvature of the Earth seen from orbit would be one of the main attractions for tourists paying to go into space Space tourism is the recent phenomenon of space travel by individuals for the purpose of personal pleasure. ...

Versions

The MRO spacecraft lauches on August the 12. 2005 at 11:43 UTC to the Planet Mars onboard an Atlas V 401 Launch Vehicle.

List Date: January 19, 2006 Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2040x3000, 510 KB) The MRO Spaceprobe lauches on August the 12. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2040x3000, 510 KB) The MRO Spaceprobe lauches on August the 12. ... NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a multipurpose spacecraft designed to conduct reconnaissance and exploration of Mars from orbit. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ... A geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is a Hohmann transfer orbit around the Earth between a low Earth orbit (LEO) and a geostationary orbit (GEO). ...

Atlas V Launches

// An Atlas V 551 with the New Horizons Deep Space Probe launches from Lauch Pad 41 in Cape Canaveral. ...

Past launches

An Atlas V 551 with the New Horizons Deep Space Probe launches from Lauch Pad 41 in Cape Canaveral.

List Date: January 2007 Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1960x3008, 583 KB) Launch of New Horizons probe on an Atlas V 551 rocket (Jan. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1960x3008, 583 KB) Launch of New Horizons probe on an Atlas V 551 rocket (Jan. ... New Horizons is a NASA unmanned mission to fly by Pluto and its moons. ... Cape Canaveral from space, August 1991 Cape Canaveral (Cabo Cañaveral in Spanish) is a strip of land in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of that states Atlantic coast. ... January is the first month of the year and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... The Bumper V-2 was the first missile launched at Cape Canaveral on July 24, 1950. ... An aerial view of LC-41. ... Hot Bird or Hotbird is the common name of a family of satellites operated by Eutelsat, located at 13°E over the Equator (orbital position) and with a transmitting footprint over Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. ... U.S. military MILSTAR communications satellite A communications satellite (sometimes abbreviated to comsat) is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purposes of telecommunications. ... May 13 is the 133rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (134th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with geostationary orbit. ... July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 11 is the 70th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (71st in Leap year). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Inmarsat is an international telecommunications company founded in 1979, originally as an intergovernmental organization. ... August 12 is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a multipurpose spacecraft designed to conduct reconnaissance and exploration of Mars from orbit. ... Note: This article contains special characters. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... New Horizons is a NASA unmanned mission to fly by Pluto and its moons. ... Adjectives: Plutonian Atmosphere Surface pressure: 0. ... Artists rendering of the Kuiper Belt and hypothetical more distant Oort cloud. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is an aerospace and defense corporation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Planned launches

List Date: January 14, 2007 January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is an agency in the United States Department of Defense (DoD) which designs, builds and operates the reconnaissance satellites of the United States government. ... A spy satellite (officially referred to as a reconnaissance satellite or recon sat) is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. ... Vandenberg Air Force Base is a base with a spaceport, located in Santa Barbara County, California. ... Vandenburg Air Force Bases Space Launch Complex 3 (SLC-3) was the first launch platform for the Atlas rocket system. ... The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is an agency in the United States Department of Defense (DoD) which designs, builds and operates the reconnaissance satellites of the United States government. ... A spy satellite (officially referred to as a reconnaissance satellite or recon sat) is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. ... An artist’s impression showing one of the Block 5D-2 spacecraft in orbit. ... Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is an unmanned orbiter planned for launch to the Moon in October 2008. ... 2006 Mars Science Laboratory concept 2003 Mars Science Laboratory concept Schematic diagram of the planned rover components, updated version Schematic diagram of the planned rover components The Mars Science Laboratory (or MSL for short) is a NASA rover scheduled to launch in December 2009 and perform a precision landing on...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Atlas

• Atlas V at Lockheed Martin
• Atlas - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
• http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/atlasv.htm

1. ^ Gaskill, Braddock. "Human Rated Atlas V for Bigelow Space Station details emerge", NASASpaceflight.com, 1/31/2007.

v • d • e  RD-170 rocket engine family
	Main Article: RD-170
	Derivatives: RD-171 | RD-180 | RD-191
	Technologies: Bipropellant | LOX | RP-1 | Staged combustion cycle
	Historic rockets: Atlas III (RD-180) | Energia (RD-170)
	Current rockets: Atlas V (RD-180) | Zenit (RD-171)
	Future rockets: Angara (RD-171/RD-191) | GX (RD-180)
	Other LOX & RP-1 Engines: F-1 (Saturn V) | Kestrel (Falcon 1)