List of Atlas launches |
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1957–1959 · 1960–1969 · 1970–1979 · 1980–1989 · 1990–1999 · 2000–2009 · 2010–2019 · 2020–2029 |
2010 | ||||||||
Flight № | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AV-021 | February 11, 2010, 15:23 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | Solar Dynamics Observatory | 290 kg | GTO | NASA | Success [1] |
NASA solar observatory. | ||||||||
AV-012 | April 22, 2010, 23:52 | Atlas V 501 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-212 (X-37B OTV-1) | 5,400 kg | LEO | US Air Force | Success [2] |
Maiden flight of the Boeing X-37 military spaceplane; first flight of the Atlas V 501. | ||||||||
AV-019 | August 14, 2010, 11:07 | Atlas V 531 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-214 (AEHF-1) | 6,168 kg | GTO | US Air Force | Success [3] |
First Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite; first flight of the Atlas V 531. | ||||||||
AV-025 | September 21, 2010, 04:03 | Atlas V 501 | VAFB SLC-3E | USA-215 (NROL-41) | Classified | LEO | US NRO | Success [4] |
Classified NRO payload. | ||||||||
2011 | ||||||||
Flight № | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
AV-026 | March 5, 2011, 22:46 | Atlas V 501 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-226 (X-37B OTV-2) | 5,400 kg (X-37B OTV-2) | LEO | USAF | Success [5] |
Second X-37B military spaceplane mission. | ||||||||
AV-027 | April 15, 2011, 04:24 | Atlas V 411 | VAFB SLC-3E | USA-229 (NROL-34) | Classified | LEO | NRO | Success [6] |
Two Naval Ocean Surveillance System satellites. | ||||||||
AV-022 | May 7, 2011, 18:10 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-230 (SBIRS GEO-1) | ~4,500 kg | GTO | USAF | Success [7] |
First Space-Based Infrared System ballistic missile early warning satellite. | ||||||||
AV-029 | August 5, 2011, 16:25 | Atlas V 551 | CCAFS SLC-41 | Juno | 3,625 kg | Heliocentric | NASA | Success [8] |
NASA Jupiter orbiter. | ||||||||
AV-028 | November 26, 2011, 15:02 | Atlas V 541 | CCAFS SLC-41 | Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) | 3,839 kg | Heliocentric | NASA | Success [9] |
NASA Mars rover; first flight of Atlas V 541. | ||||||||
2012 | ||||||||
Flight № | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
AV-030 | February 24, 2012, 22:15 | Atlas V 551 | CCAFS SLC-41 | MUOS-1 | 6,740 kg | GTO | DoD | Success [10] |
First Mobile User Objective System satellite; heaviest payload launched by Atlas V to date; 200th Centaur upper stage. | ||||||||
AV-031 | May 4, 2012, 18:42 | Atlas V 531 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-235 (AEHF-2) | 6,168 kg | GTO | US Air Force | Success [11] |
Second Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite. | ||||||||
AV-023 | June 20, 2012, 12:28 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-236 (NROL-38) | Classified | GTO | US NRO | Success [12] |
Classified NRO payload; 50th EELV launch. | ||||||||
AV-032 | August 30, 2012, 08:05 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | Van Allen Probes | 3000 kg | Highly elliptical | NASA | Success [13] |
Dual NASA probes to map the Van Allen radiation belt. | ||||||||
AV-033 | September 13, 2012, 21:39 | Atlas V 401 | VAFB SLC-3E | USA-238 (NROL-36) + 11 cubesats | Classified | LEO | NRO/NASA | Success [14] |
Classified NRO main payload; additional eleven cubesats including four NASA ELeNa missions. | ||||||||
AV-034 | December 11, 2012, 18:03 | Atlas V 501 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-240 (X-37B OTV-3) | 5,400 kg (X-37B OTV-3) | LEO | US Air Force | Success [15] |
Third flight of the X-37 military spaceplane. | ||||||||
2013 | ||||||||
Flight № | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
AV-036 | January 31, 2013, 01:48 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | TDRS-K (TDRS-11) | 3,454 kg | GTO | NASA | Success [16] |
Eleventh NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. | ||||||||
AV-035 | February 11, 2013, 18:02 | Atlas V 401 | VAFB SLC-3E | Landsat 8 | 1,512 kg | LEO/SSO | USGS | Success [17] |
Eighth Landsat geological survey satellite. | ||||||||
AV-037 | March 19, 2013, 21:21 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-241 (SBIRS GEO-2) | ~4,500 kg | GTO | USAF | Success [18] |
Second Space-Based Infrared System geostationary satellite. | ||||||||
AV-039 | May 15, 2013, 21:38 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-242 (GPS-IIF-4) | 1,630 kg | MEO | USAF | Success [19] |
Fourth GPS Block IIF navigation satellite. | ||||||||
AV-040 | July 19, 2013, 13:00 | Atlas V 551 | CCAFS SLC-41 | MUOS-2 | 6,740 kg | GTO | DoD | Success [20] |
Second Mobile User Objective System satellite; heaviest payload launched by an Atlas V to date. | ||||||||
AV-041 | September 18, 2013, 08:10 | Atlas V 531 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-246 (AEHF-3) | 6,168 kg | GTO | US Air Force | Success [21] |
Third Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellite; 75th ULA launch. | ||||||||
AV-038 | November 18, 2013, 18:28 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | MAVEN | 2,454 kg | Heliocentric | NASA | Success [22] |
NASA Mars atmospheric research probe. | ||||||||
AV-042 | December 6, 2013, 07:14 | Atlas V 501 | VAFB SLC-3E | USA-247 (NROL-39) + 12 cubesats | Classified | LEO | US NRO | Success [23] |
Classified NRO payload; twelve cubesats. | ||||||||
2014 | ||||||||
Flight № | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
AV-043 | January 24, 2014, 02:33 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | TDRS-L (TDRS-12) | 3,454 kg | GTO | NASA | Success [24] |
Twelfth NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. | ||||||||
AV-044 | April 3, 2014, 14:46 | Atlas V 401 | VAFB SLC-3E | USA-249 (DMSP F19) | ~1,200 kg | SSO | DoD | Success [25] |
Nineteenth Defense Meteorological Satellite Program weather satellite; 50th flight of an RD-180 engine. | ||||||||
AV-045 | April 10, 2014, 17:45 | Atlas V 541 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-250 (NROL-67) | Classified | GSO | US NRO | Success [26] |
Classified NRO payload. | ||||||||
AV-046 | May 22, 2014, 13:09 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-252 (NROL-33) | Classified | GTO | US NRO | Success [27] |
Classified NRO payload. | ||||||||
AV-048 | August 2, 2014, 03:23 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-256 (GPS IIF-7) | 1,630 kg | MEO | US Air Force | Success [28] |
Seventh GPS Block IIF navigation satellite. | ||||||||
AV-047 | August 13, 2014, 18:30 | Atlas V 401 | VAFB SLC-3E | WorldView 3 | 2,800 kg | SSO | DigitalGlobe | Success [29] |
DigitalGlobe earth observation satellite. | ||||||||
AV-049 | September 17, 2014, 00:10 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-257 (CLIO) | Classified | GTO [30] | Success [31] | |
Second Nemesis COMINT transmission-intercepting satellite. | ||||||||
AV-050 | October 29, 2014, 17:21 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-258 (GPS IIF-8) | 1,630 kg | MEO | US Air Force | Success [32] |
Eighth GPS Block IIF navigation satellite. 50th Atlas V launch. | ||||||||
AV-051 | December 13, 2014, 03:19 | Atlas V 541 | VAFB SLC-3E | USA-259 (NROL-35) | Classified | Molniya | NRO | Success [33] |
Classified NRO payload; first Centaur upper stage to use the RL10-C1. | ||||||||
2015 | ||||||||
Flight № | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
AV-052 | January 21, 2015, 01:04 | Atlas V 551 | CCAFS SLC-41 | MUOS-3 | 6,740 kg | GTO | DoD | Success [34] |
Third Mobile User Objective System satellite; 200th Atlas-Centaur launch. | ||||||||
AV-053 | March 13, 2015, 02:44 | Atlas V 421 | CCAFS SLC-41 | MMS | 1,360 kg | HTO | NASA | Success [35] |
NASA Magnetosphere research constellation. | ||||||||
AV-054 | May 20, 2015, 15:05 | Atlas V 501 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-261 (AFSPC-5 (X-37B OTV-4, ULTRASat)) | 5,000 kg | LEO | US Air Force | Success [36] |
Fourth flight of the X-37 military spaceplane; cubesats. | ||||||||
AV-055 | July 15, 2015, 15:36 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-262 (GPS IIF-10) | 1,630 kg | MEO | US Air Force | Success [37] |
Tenth GPS Block IIF navigation satellite. | ||||||||
AV-056 | September 2, 2015, 10:18 | Atlas V 551 | CCAFS SLC-41 | MUOS-4 | 6,740 kg | GTO | DoD | Success [38] |
Fourth Mobile User Objective System satellite. | ||||||||
AV-059 | October 2, 2015, 10:28 | Atlas V 421 | CCAFS SLC-41 | MEXSAT-2 (Morelos 3) | 3,200 kg | GTO | MEXSAT | Success [39] |
Mexican communications satellite; 100th ULA launch. | ||||||||
AV-058 | October 8, 2015, 12:49 | Atlas V 401 | VAFB SLC-3E | USA-264 (NROL-55) + 13 cubesats | Classified | LEO | US NRO | Success [40] |
Classified NRO payload; cubesats. | ||||||||
AV-060 | October 31, 2015, 16:13 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-265 (GPS IIF-11) | 1,630 kg | MEO | US Air Force | Success [41] |
Eleventh GPS Block IIF navigation satellite. | ||||||||
AV-061 | December 6, 2015, 21:44 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | Cygnus CRS OA-4 | 7,492 kg | LEO to ISS | Orbital ATK | Success [42] |
Fourth Cygnus ISS resupply vehicle; launched by ULA after the grounding of Antares following the Orb-3 failure. | ||||||||
2016 | ||||||||
Flight № | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
AV-057 | February 5, 2016, 13:38 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-266 (GPS IIF-12) | 1,630 kg | MEO | US Air Force | Success [43] |
Twelfth GPS Block IIF navigation satellite. | ||||||||
AV-064 | March 23, 2016, 03:05 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | Cygnus CRS OA-6 | 7,492 kg | LEO to ISS | Orbital ATK | Success [44] |
Fifth Cygnus ISS resupply mission; early RD-180 engine shutdown resulting in longer second-stage burn. | ||||||||
AV-063 | June 24, 2016, 14:30 | Atlas V 551 | CCAFS SLC-41 | MUOS-5 | 6,740 kg | GTO | DoD | Success [45] |
Fifth Mobile User Objective System satellite. | ||||||||
AV-065 | July 28, 2016, 12:37 | Atlas V 421 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA 267 (NROL-61) | Classified | GTO | NRO | Success [46] |
First fourth-generation SDS satellite; also known as QUASAR 20. [47] | ||||||||
AV-067 | September 8, 2016, 23:05 | Atlas V 411 | CCAFS SLC-41 | OSIRIS-REx | 880 kg | Heliocentric | NASA | Success [48] |
NASA sample-return mission to asteroid 101955 Bennu. | ||||||||
AV-062 | November 11, 2016, 18:30 | Atlas V 401 | VAFB SLC-3E | WorldView-4 (GeoEye-2) + 7 cubesats | 2,485 kg | SSO | DigitalGlobe | Success [49] |
DigitalGlobe earth observation satellite; NASA/LANL cubesats. | ||||||||
AV-069 | November 19, 2016, 23:42 | Atlas V 541 | CCAFS SLC-41 | GOES-R (GOES-16) | 2,857 kg | GTO | NOAA | Success [50] |
Sixteenth GOES weather satellite; 100th EELV launch. | ||||||||
AV-071 | December 18, 2016, 19:13 | Atlas V 431 | CCAFS SLC-41 | EchoStar 19 (Jupiter 2) | 6,700 kg | GTO | EchoStar | Success [51] |
Hughes internet satellite; highest capacity communications satellite ever launched. | ||||||||
2017 | ||||||||
Flight № | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
AV-066 | January 21, 2017, 00:42 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-273 (SBIRS GEO-3) | ~4,500 kg | GTO | USAF | Success [52] |
Third Space-Based Infrared System early-warning missile detection satellite. | ||||||||
AV-068 | March 1, 2017, 17:49 | Atlas V 401 | VAFB SLC-3E | USA 274 (NROL-79) | Classified | LEO | US NRO | Success [53] |
Two Naval Ocean Surveillance System satellites. | ||||||||
AV-070 | April 18, 2017, 15:11 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | Cygnus CRS OA-7 | 7,225 kg | LEO | Orbital ATK | Success [52] |
Sixth Cygnus ISS resupply mission, final one to utilize Atlas V. | ||||||||
AV-074 | August 18, 2017, 12:29 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS SLC-41 | TDRS-M | 3,452 kg | GTO | NASA | Success [54] |
Thirteenth NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. | ||||||||
AV-072 | September 24, 2017, 05:49 | Atlas V 541 | VAFB SLC-3E | USA 278 (NROL-42) | Classified | HEO | US NRO | Success [55] |
Trumpet 7 SIGINT satellite. | ||||||||
AV-075 | October 15, 2017, 07:28 | Atlas V 421 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-279 (NROL-52) | Classified | GTO | US NRO | Success [56] |
Second fourth-generation SDS satellite; also known as QUASAR 21. | ||||||||
2018 | ||||||||
Flight № | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
AV-076 | January 20, 2018, 00:48 | Atlas V 411 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-282 (SBIRS GEO-4) | ~4,540 kg | GTO | USAF | Success [57] |
Fourth Space-Based Infrared System Geostationary early-warning missile detection satellite. | ||||||||
AV-077 | March 1, 2018, 22:02 | Atlas V 541 | CCAFS SLC-41 | GOES-S (GOES-17) | 5,192 kg | GTO | NASA | Success [58] |
Seventeenth GOES weather satellite. | ||||||||
AV-079 | April 14, 2018, 23:13 | Atlas V 551 | CCAFS SLC-41 | AFSPC-11, multi-payload (CBAS & EAGLE) [59] | Classified | GEO [60] | USAF | Success [59] |
USAF rideshare. Centaur disposal near GEO. [60] | ||||||||
AV-078 | May 5, 2018, 11:05 | Atlas V 401 | VAFB SLC-3E | InSight | 694 kg (InSight) | Heliocentric | NASA | Success [61] |
NASA Mars seismology lander; two MarCO interplanetary communications cubesats. | ||||||||
AV-073 | October 17, 2018, 04:15 | Atlas V 551 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-288 (AEHF-4) | 6,168 kg | GTO | USAF | Success [62] |
Fourth Advanced Extremely High Frequency military communications satellite. | ||||||||
2019 | ||||||||
Flight № | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
AV-083 | August 8, 2019, 10:13 | Atlas V 551 | CCAFS SLC-41 | USA-292 (AEHF-5) | 6,168 kg | GTO | US Air Force | Success [63] |
Fifth Advanced Extremely High Frequency military communications satellite. | ||||||||
AV-080 | December 20, 2019, 11:36 | Atlas V N22 | CCAFS SLC-41 | Boeing Starliner OFT [64] | ~13,000 kg | LEO (ISS) | Boeing | Success [65] |
First Atlas V launch with dual-engine Centaur; Boeing Starliner test flight; Atlas V performed nominally but Starliner failed to complete its mission. [66] | ||||||||
The Centaur is a family of rocket propelled upper stages that has been in use since 1962. It is currently produced by U.S. launch service provider United Launch Alliance, with one main active version and one version under development. The 3.05 m (10.0 ft) diameter Common Centaur/Centaur III flies as the upper stage of the Atlas V launch vehicle, and the 5.4 m (18 ft) diameter Centaur V has been developed as the upper stage of ULA's new Vulcan rocket. Centaur was the first rocket stage to use liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX) propellants, a high-energy combination that is ideal for upper stages but has significant handling difficulties.
Delta IV was a group of five expendable launch systems in the Delta rocket family. It flew 45 missions from 2002 to 2024. Originally designed by Boeing's Defense, Space and Security division for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, the Delta IV became a United Launch Alliance (ULA) product in 2006. The Delta IV was primarily a launch vehicle for United States Air Force (USAF) military payloads, but was also used to launch a number of United States government non-military payloads and a single commercial satellite.
Atlas V is an expendable launch system and the fifth major version in the Atlas launch vehicle family. It was designed by Lockheed Martin and has been operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA) since 2006. It is used for DoD, NASA, and commercial payloads. It is America's longest-serving active rocket. After 87 launches, in August 2021 ULA announced that Atlas V would be retired, and all 29 remaining launches had been sold. As of July 2024, 15 launches remain. Production ceased in 2024. Other future ULA launches will use the Vulcan Centaur rocket.
Space Launch Complex 3 (SLC-3) is a launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base that consists of two separate launch pads. SLC-3E (East) was used by the Atlas V launch vehicle before it was decommissioned in August 2021 with the final launch taking place on November 10, 2022 at 09:49, while SLC-3W (West) has been demolished.
United Launch Alliance, LLC (ULA) is an American launch service provider formed in December 2006 as a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Space and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. The company designs, assembles, sells and launches rockets, but the company subcontracts out the production of rocket engines and solid rocket boosters.
A payload fairing is a nose cone used to protect a spacecraft payload against the impact of dynamic pressure and aerodynamic heating during launch through an atmosphere. An additional function on some flights is to maintain the cleanroom environment for precision instruments. Once outside the atmosphere the fairing is jettisoned, exposing the payload to outer space.
Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41), previously Launch Complex 41 (LC-41), is an active launch site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. As of 2024, the site is used by United Launch Alliance (ULA) for Atlas V and Vulcan Centaur launches. Previously, it had been used by the United States Air Force for Titan IIIC, Titan IIIE, and Titan IV launches.
The Space Test Program (STP) is the primary provider of spaceflight for the United States Department of Defense (DoD) space science and technology community. STP is managed by a group within the Advanced Systems and Development Directorate, a directorate of the Space and Missile Systems Center of the United States Space Force. STP provides spaceflight via the International Space Station (ISS), piggybacks, secondary payloads and dedicated launch services.
Atlas is a family of US missiles and space launch vehicles that originated with the SM-65 Atlas. The Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program was initiated in the late 1950s under the Convair Division of General Dynamics. Atlas was a liquid propellant rocket burning RP-1 kerosene fuel with liquid oxygen in three engines configured in an unusual "stage-and-a-half" or "parallel staging" design: two outboard booster engines were jettisoned along with supporting structures during ascent, while the center sustainer engine, propellant tanks and other structural elements remained connected through propellant depletion and engine shutdown.
The Delta IV Heavy was an expendable heavy-lift launch vehicle, the largest type of the Delta IV family. It was the world's third highest-capacity launch vehicle in operation at the time of its retirement in 2024, behind NASA's Space Launch System and SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and closely followed by CASC's Long March 5. It was manufactured by United Launch Alliance (ULA) and was first launched in 2004. ULA retired the Delta IV Heavy in 2024. Future ULA launches will use the new Vulcan Centaur rocket. Delta IV's final flight was on 9 April 2024.
Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment (CSSWE) was the sixth National Science Foundation sponsored CubeSat mission. It was built by students at the University of Colorado at Boulder with advising from professionals at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics. The CSSWE mission was a joint effort by the University of Colorado's Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences and Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics. The mission principal investigator was Prof. Xinlin Li, and the Co-PIs are Prof. Scott Palo and Dr. Shri Kanekal. The project manager for the project was Dr. Lauren Blum, the system engineer was Dr. David Gerhardt, and the instrument scientist was Dr. Quintin Schiller.
Space launch market competition is the manifestation of market forces in the launch service provider business. In particular it is the trend of competitive dynamics among payload transport capabilities at diverse prices having a greater influence on launch purchasing than the traditional political considerations of country of manufacture or the national entity using, regulating or licensing the launch service.
Vulcan Centaur is a heavy-lift launch vehicle created and operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA). It is a two-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle consisting of the Vulcan first stage and the Centaur second stage. It replaces ULA's Atlas V and Delta IV rockets. It is principally designed for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, which launches satellites for U.S. intelligence agencies and the Defense Department, but will also be used for commercial launches.