List of Atlas launches (1957–59)

1957

Date/Time
(UTC)
Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1957-06-11
19:37
Atlas A 4A CCAFS LC-14 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Maiden flight of Atlas A. Overheating in the boattail led to propulsion system failure. RSO T+50 seconds.
1957-09-25
19:57
Atlas A 6A CCAFS LC-14 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Overheating in the boattail led to propulsion system failure. RSO T+63 seconds.
1957-12-17
17:39
Atlas A 12A CCAFS LC-14 ICBM test Suborbital Success

1958

Date/Time
(UTC)
Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1958-01-10
15:48
Atlas A 10A CCAFS LC-12 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1958-02-07
19:37
Atlas A 13A CCAFS LC-14 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Vernier feedback transducer short followed by propulsion system failure. Missile broke up T+164 seconds.
1958-02-20
17:46
Atlas A 11A CCAFS LC-12 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Vernier feedback transducer short followed by propulsion system failure. Missile broke up T+126 seconds.
1958-04-05
17:01
Atlas A 15A CCAFS LC-14 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Turbopump failure T+105 seconds. Missile remained structurally intact until impacting the ocean.
1958-06-03
21:28
Atlas A 16A CCAFS LC-12 ICBM test Suborbital Success Final flight of Atlas A
1958-07-19
17:36
Atlas B 3B CCAFS LC-11 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Maiden flight of Atlas B. Missile mistakenly launched with the gyroscope package powered off, leading to control failure and vehicle breakup at T+43 seconds.
1958-08-02
22:16
Atlas B 4B CCAFS LC-13 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1958-08-29
04:30
Atlas B 5B CCAFS LC-11 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1958-09-14
05:24
Atlas B 8B CCAFS LC-14 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1958-09-18
21:27
Atlas B 6B CCAFS LC-13 ICBM test Suborbital Failure. Turbopump failure T+80 seconds caused engine shutdown. Missile destroyed itself T+82 seconds.
1958-11-18
0400
Atlas B 9B CCAFS LC-11 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Partial failure. Excessive fuel consumption resulted in premature sustainer cutoff.
1958-11-29
02:27
Atlas B 12B CCAFS LC-14 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1958-12-18
23:02
Atlas B 10B CCAFS LC-11 SCORE Comsat LEO Success First use of an Atlas vehicle for a space launch.
1958-12-24
04:45
Atlas C 3C CCAFS LC-12 ICBM test Suborbital Success Maiden flight of Atlas C

1959

Date/Time
(UTC)
Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1959-01-16
04:00
Atlas B 13B CCAFS LC-14 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Unexplained control and propulsion system difficulties (missile had no telemetry package) starting at T+100 seconds, followed by engine shutdown T+121 seconds.
1959-01-27
23:34
Atlas C 4C CCAFS LC-12 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Partial failure. Guidance system failed, however the flight control system kept the missile on course. Reentry vehicle not recovered.
1959-02-04
08:01
Atlas B 11B CCAFS LC-11 ICBM test Suborbital Success Final flight of Atlas B
1959-02-20
05:38
Atlas C 5C CCAFS LC-12 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Fuel staging disconnect valve failed to close at booster jettison, resulting in loss of tank pressure. Missile destroyed itself T+172 seconds.
1959-03-19
00:59
Atlas C 7C CCAFS LC-12 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Electrical glitches caused guidance system failure and premature booster engine shutdown, leading to unstable flight trajectory. RVX-2A reentry vehicle not recovered.
1959-04-14
21:46
Atlas D 3D CCAFS LC-13 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Maiden flight of Atlas D. Propellant leak at liftoff led to booster section explosion T+26 seconds. RSO T+35 seconds.
1959-05-19
04:30
Atlas D 7D CCAFS LC-14 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Pad hold-down arm malfunction damaged missile at liftoff, causing loss of tank pressure during ascent. Missile destroyed itself T+64 seconds.
1959-06-06
17:39
Atlas D 5D CCAFS LC-13 ICBM test Suborbital Failure Fuel staging disconnect valve failed to close at booster jettison, resulting in loss of tank pressure. Missile destroyed itself T+157 seconds.
1959-07-21
05:22
Atlas C 8C CCAFS LC-12 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1959-07-29
04:10
Atlas D 11D CCAFS LC-11 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1959-08-11
18:01
Atlas D 14D CCAFS LC-13 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1959-08-24
15:53
Atlas C 11C CCAFS LC-12 ICBM test Suborbital Success Final flight of Atlas C. RVX-1 reentry vehicle equipped with a camera package photographed the Earth and was recovered after a 250-mile suborbital lob.
1959-09-09
08:19
Atlas D 10D CCAFS LC-14 Big Joe 1 Mercury test Suborbital Failure. Partial failure. Booster jettison failed due to bad electrical contacts. Boilerplate Mercury capsule successfully recovered.
1959-09-09
17:50:42
Atlas D 12D VAFB LC-576A-2 ICBM test Suborbital Success First Atlas launch from Vandenberg
1959-09-17
02:09
Atlas D 17D CCASF LC-13 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1959-10-06
05:55
Atlas D 18D CCAFS LC-11 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1959-10-10
03:10
Atlas D 22D CCAFS LC-13 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1959-10-29
07:20
Atlas D 26D CCAFS LC-11 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1959-11-04
21:37
Atlas D 28D CCAFS LC-13 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1959-11-24
19:48
Atlas D 15D CCAFS LC-13 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1959-11-26
07:26
Atlas-Able 20D CCAFS LC-14 Pioneer P-3 Lunar probe HEO (target) Failure Maiden flight of Atlas-Able. Payload fairing broke up at T+45 seconds, leading to loss of the upper stages and payload. Atlas performed normally.
1959-12-09
00:10
Atlas D 31D CCAFS LC-13 ICBM test Suborbital Success
1959-12-19
00:48
Atlas D 40D CCAFS LC-13 ICBM test Suborbital Success First use of a "dry" engine start on an Atlas (igniter activated prior to propellant injection)

References

    • McDowell, Jonathan. "Atlas". Orbital and Suborbital launch database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-04-19. 
    • Wade, Mark. "Atlas". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2009-04-19. 

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