Overview
Manufacturer: United Launch Alliance
Cost: $109 million to $153 million
Stages: 2
Boosters: 0 to 5
Height: 58.3 m (191 ft)
Diameter: 3.81 m (16 ft)
Mass: 334,500 kg (737,400 lb)
Payload capacity (to low earth orbit): 8,250 to 20,520 kg (18,190 to 45,240 lb)
Maiden flight: August 21, 2002
Variants
Atlas V variants each carry a three digit designation. The first digit indicates the diameter of the payload fairing in meters. The second digit refers to the number of strap-on solid rocket boosters (SRBs). The last is the number of engines powering the Centaur upper stage.
401: active
402: never launched
411: active
412: never launched
421: active
422: never launched
431: active
501: active
502: never launched
511: never launched
512: never launched
521: active
522: never launched
531: active
532: never launched
542: never launched
551: active
552: never launched
5H1: (three CBBs) never launched
5H2: (three CBBs) never launched
N22: (no fairing. Starliner launch platform) never launched
Stage 1 (CCB)
Length: 32.46 m
Engine: 1x RD-180
Fuel: LOX/RP-1
Thrust: 3,827 kN (860,000 lbf)
Burn Time: 253 seconds
Stage 2 (Centaur)
Length: 12.58 m
Engine: 1x RL10A or 1x RL10C
Fuel: LH2 / LOX
Thrust (RL10A):99.2 kN (22,300 lbf)
Burn Time (RL10A): 842 seconds
Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs)
Length: 17 m
Diameter: 1.6 m
Engine: 1x AJ-60A
Fuel: HTPB
Thrust: 1,688.4 kN (379,600 lbf)
Burn Time: 94 seconds
Atlas V
The Atlas V is the largest and most powerful launch vehicle offered by United Launch Alliance (ULA). The vehicle was originally developed and built by Lockheed Martin and was launched for the first time on August 21, 2002. It became part of the ULA lineup in 2006 following the founding of the joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing that created the aerospace titan. The Atlas V is the second most powerful launch vehicle in the world (behind the Falcon Heavy). Additionally, the vehicle is the fifth most powerful in history (behind the Saturn V, the Shuttle, the Soviet N1 and the Falcon Heavy).
The Russian-built RD-180 kerosene and liquid oxygen engine powers the Atlas V first stage. Both Aerojet and Blue Origin are currently developing engines to replace the RD-180 with an American-built alternative. These engines are also being considered for ULA’s next-generation Vulcan launch vehicle. The vehicle’s Centaur upper stage is equipped with the American-built RL10 liquid hydrogen and oxygen-powered engine.
Atlas V configurations that utilise strap-on boosters for greater lift capacity utilise the RD-180-powered Common Core Booster (CCB) or the AJ-60A solid rocket booster (SRB).
SRBs are used within seven Atlas V configurations hat have been launched at least once and nine that have never been launched. The configurations utilise between 1 and 5 SRBs. Both Atlas V Heavy variants (HLV / 5H1 and HLV DEC / 5H2) are given additional thrust via two CCBs. Neither of the two Atlas V Heavy variants has ever been launched.
