Rocket DB

Atlas family

Atlas V 421

RetiredUnited StatesUnited Launch AllianceSpec: 421

Atlas V is an expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. It was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin and is now operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture with Boeing. Each Atlas V rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage. The RD-180 engines are provided by RD Amross, while Aerojet Rocketdyne provides both the RL10 engines and the strap-on boosters used in some configurations. The 421 version uses a 4m wide fairing, 2 solid rocket boosters and one engine on the Centaur stage.

Flights flown9
Success rate100%9/9
Payload to LEO14,067kg
Cost per kg to LEO$8,744$123M per launch
Maiden flight2007-10-11
Peak year20152 flights

Atlas V 421 is built by United Launch Alliance of the United States. Company background, funding, contracts and news for this operator are tracked on Space Index. It first flew on 11 October 2007 and last flew on 4 August 2022.

Flight record

9 records
100% success rate9 of 9 flown
2007peak 2015 · 2 flights2022
First flight2007-10-11
Latest flight2022-08-04
Failures0
Consecutive successes9
Fastest turnaround186d 19h

Payload

Per mission profile
Low Earth orbit14,067kg
Geostationary transfer orbit6,890kg
Launch cost$123M
Cost per kg to LEO$8,744

Vehicle

421 spec
Stages2
Length58.3m
Diameter3.8m
Launch mass433t
Maiden flight2007-10-11
ReusableNo

Pads used

1 pad
Space Launch Complex 419

Orbits delivered

1 orbit
Geostationary Transfer Orbit7

Launch history

9 launches
DateMissionPadOrbitOutcome
2022-08-04Atlas V 421 | SBIRS GEO-6Space Launch Complex 41Geostationary Transfer OrbitSuccess
2021-05-18Atlas V 421 | SBIRS GEO-5Space Launch Complex 41Geostationary Transfer OrbitSuccess
2017-10-15Atlas V 421 | NROL-52Space Launch Complex 41Geostationary Transfer OrbitSuccess
2016-07-28Atlas V 421 | NROL-61Space Launch Complex 41Geostationary Transfer OrbitSuccess
2015-10-02Atlas V 421 | Mexsat-2 (Morelos III)Space Launch Complex 41Success
2015-03-13Atlas V 421 | MMSSpace Launch Complex 41Success
2009-04-04Atlas V 421 | WGS-2Space Launch Complex 41Geostationary Transfer OrbitSuccess
2008-04-14Atlas V 421 | ICO G1Space Launch Complex 41Geostationary Transfer OrbitSuccess
2007-10-11Atlas V 421 | WGS-1Space Launch Complex 41Geostationary Transfer OrbitSuccess

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 · Operator page