Space Launch Now - Atlas SLV-3

Atlas SLV-3

In-active

Convair ()

June 1, 1966

Description

The Atlas SLV-3, or SLV-3 Atlas was an American expendable launch system derived from the SM-65 Atlas / SM-65D Atlas missile. It was a member of the Atlas family of rockets.

Specifications

Stages
1
Length
21.0 m
Diameter
3.05 m
Fairing Diameter
3.05 m
Launch Mass
120.0 T
Thrust
3824.0 kN

Family

Name
Atlas SLV-3
Family
―
Variant
SLV-3
Alias
―
Full Name
Atlas SLV-3

Payload Capacity

Launch Cost
―
Low Earth Orbit
800.0 kg
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
―
Direct Geostationary
―
Sun-Synchronous Capacity
―

Convair

Commercial

None

1943

Convair, previously Consolidated Vultee, was an American aircraft manufacturing company that later expanded into rockets and spacecraft. The company was formed in 1943 by the merger of Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee Aircraft. In 1953 it was purchased by General Dynamics, and operated as their Convair Division for most of its corporate history.

Previous Flights

flew on four previous launch(es).

Atlas SLV-3 | PRIME 3

Convair | United States of America
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
April 20, 1967, 1:35 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The Martin X-23 PRIME (Precision Recovery Including Maneuvering Entry) was a small uncrewed lifting body re-entry vehicle tested by the United States Air Force in the late 1960s. PRIME 3 mission was flown on 19 April 1967 and simulated reentry from low-earth orbit with a 1143 km cross-range. This time, all systems performed perfectly, and the X-23 was successfully recovered.

Suborbital

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Atlas SLV-3 | PRIME 2

Convair | United States of America
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
March 5, 1967, 11:05 p.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The Martin X-23 PRIME (Precision Recovery Including Maneuvering Entry) was a small uncrewed lifting body re-entry vehicle tested by the United States Air Force in the late 1960s. PRIME 2 was launched on 5 March 1967. This flight simulated a 1053 km cross range re-entry, and banking at hypersonic speeds. Several stringers on the main parachute failed to cut which lead to the loss of the vehicle.

Suborbital

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Atlas SLV-3 | PRIME 1

Convair | United States of America
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Dec. 21, 1966, 10:15 p.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The Martin X-23 PRIME (Precision Recovery Including Maneuvering Entry) was a small uncrewed lifting body re-entry vehicle tested by the United States Air Force in the late 1960s. PRIME 1 was launched on 21 December 1966 on a mission to simulate a low-earth orbit reentry with a zero cross-range. The ballute deployed at 30.43 km, though the recovery parachute failed to completely deploy. The vehicle crashed into the Pacific Ocean and was not recovered.

Suborbital

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Atlas SLV-3 | ATDA

Convair | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
June 1, 1966, 3 p.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The ATDA (Augmented Target Docking Adapter) had been prepared as a back-up target in case of an GATV (Gemini Agena Target Vehicle) failure. The ATDA was a short cylinder consisting of a target docking adapter cone mounted on front and containing a communications system, a guidance and control system, and a reaction control system. It also had running lights, but unlike the GATV, the ATDA had no propulsive capabilities for orbit changes.

Low Earth Orbit

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Recent Launches