Atlas family
Atlas F
The SM-65F Atlas, or Atlas-F, was the final operational variant of the Atlas missile, only differing from the Atlas E in the launch facility and guidance package used. It first flew on 8 August 1961, and was deployed as an operational ICBM between 1961 and 1966. Following retirement as an ICBM, the Atlas-F, along with the Atlas-E, was refurbished for orbital launches as the Atlas E/F.
Flights flown9
Success rate88.9%8/9
Maiden flight1961-08-08
Peak year19682 flights
Atlas F is built by Convair of the United States. It first flew on 6 April 1968 and last flew on 23 June 1981.
Flight record
88.9% success rate8 of 9 flown · 1 failed
1968peak 1968 · 2 flights1981
First flight1968-04-06
Latest flight1981-06-23
Failures1
Consecutive successes4
Fastest turnaround96d 9h
Vehicle
| Stages | 1 |
|---|---|
| Maiden flight | 1961-08-08 |
| Reusable | No |
Pads used
Orbits delivered
Low Earth Orbit5Sun-Synchronous Orbit4
Launch history
| Date | Mission | Pad | Orbit | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981-06-23 | Atlas F | NOAA 7 | Space Launch Complex 3W | Sun-Synchronous Orbit | Success |
| 1980-05-29 | Atlas F | NOAA B | Space Launch Complex 3W | Sun-Synchronous Orbit | Success |
| 1979-06-27 | Atlas F | NOAA 6 | Space Launch Complex 3W | Sun-Synchronous Orbit | Success |
| 1978-10-13 | Atlas F | Tiros-N | Space Launch Complex 3W | Sun-Synchronous Orbit | Success |
| 1975-04-13 | Atlas F | P72-2 | Space Launch Complex 3W | Low Earth Orbit | Failure |
| 1971-08-07 | Atlas F | LOADS 2 | 576A2 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 1969-03-18 | Atlas F | OV1-17,18,19 | 576A2 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 1968-07-11 | Atlas F | OV1-15 | 576A2 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 1968-04-06 | Atlas F | OV1-13 & 14 | 576A2 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
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