Atlas LV-3B
Atlas familyNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationRetired
The Atlas LV-3B, Atlas D Mercury Launch Vehicle or Mercury-Atlas Launch Vehicle, was a human-rated expendable launch system used as part of the United States Project Mercury to send astronauts into low Earth orbit. Manufactured by American aircraft manufacturing company Convair, it was derived from the SM-65D Atlas missile, and was a member of the Atlas family of rockets.
Specifications
- Thrust
- 1,300 kN
- Height
- 28.7 m
- Diameter
- 3 m
- Launch mass
- 120 t
- Stages
- 1
- LEO capacity
- 1,360 kg
Specifications from Launch Library. Figures the operator has not published are omitted.
Flight record
10flightswith a definitive outcome
70%success rate7 of 10
3failuresincluding partial failures
6success streakcurrent
First flight September 9, 1959 · latest May 15, 1963
Counted from padside's own launch record, the same basis as the stats page.
Flights per year
- Successful
- Failed
Show the numbers for Atlas LV-3B flights per year
| Year | Successful | Failed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1960 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1961 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 1962 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1963 | 1 | 0 | 1 |