Atlas family
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.
Flights flown3
Success rate0%0/3
Maiden flight1959-11-26
Peak year19602 flights
Atlas-Able is built by Convair of the United States. It first flew on 26 November 1959 and last flew on 15 December 1960.
Flight record
0% success rate0 of 3 flown · 3 failed
1959peak 1960 · 2 flights1960
First flight1959-11-26
Latest flight1960-12-15
Failures3
Consecutive successes0
Fastest turnaround80d 17h
Payload
| Geostationary transfer orbit | 250kg |
|---|
Vehicle
| Stages | 3 |
|---|---|
| Length | 35m |
| Diameter | 3.05m |
| Launch mass | 120t |
| Liftoff thrust | 1,587kN |
| Maiden flight | 1959-11-26 |
| Reusable | No |
Pads used
Orbits delivered
Lunar Orbit3
Launch history
| Date | Mission | Pad | Orbit | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960-12-15 | Atlas-Able | P-31 | Launch Complex 12 | Lunar Orbit | Failure |
| 1960-09-25 | Atlas-Able | P-30 (Able VA) | Launch Complex 12 | Lunar Orbit | Failure |
| 1959-11-26 | Atlas-Able | P-3 | Space Launch Complex 14 | Lunar Orbit | Failure |
Specifications from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs, launch records from Space Index. Derived figures are computed here; see sources and method.
Further reading: Wikipedia