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Atlas E

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Atlas E Credit: via Andreas Parsch

Status: Retired 1995. First Launch: 1960-10-11. Last Launch: 1995-03-24. Number: 48 . Payload: 820 kg (1,800 lb). Thrust: 1,713.80 kN (385,278 lbf). Gross mass: 121,000 kg (266,000 lb). Height: 28.10 m (92.10 ft). Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Apogee: 185 km (114 mi).

LEO Payload: 820 kg (1,800 lb) to a 185 km orbit at 90.00 degrees. Launch Price $: 50.000 million in 1985 dollars. Flyaway Unit Cost 1985$: 11.000 million in 1994 dollars. Initial Operational Capability: 1960.

Stage Data - Atlas E

• Stage 0. 1 x Atlas MA-3. Gross Mass: 3,174 kg (6,997 lb). Empty Mass: 3,174 kg (6,997 lb). Thrust (vac): 1,644.960 kN (369,802 lbf). Isp: 290 sec. Burn time: 120 sec. Isp(sl): 256 sec. Diameter: 4.90 m (16.00 ft). Span: 4.90 m (16.00 ft).Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 2. Engine: LR-89-5. Status: In Production.

• Stage 1. 1 x Atlas E/F. Gross Mass: 117,826 kg (259,761 lb). Empty Mass: 4,926 kg (10,859 lb). Thrust (vac): 386.300 kN (86,844 lbf). Isp: 316 sec. Burn time: 309 sec. Isp(sl): 214 sec. Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Span: 4.90 m (16.00 ft). Length: 20.12 m (66.01 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: LR-105-5. Status: In Production.

Historical Essay © Andreas Parsch

The SM-65E Atlas E was an improved SM-65D. It used a more accurate Mk.4 reentry vehicle, had an improved propulsion system (designated MA-3), and used an all-inertial guidance system developed by Bosch Arma, which was originally planned for the HGM-25A Titan I. With this navigation system, located in the distinctive large bulge on the side of the missile, the Atlas E could reach an accuracy of about 600 m (2000 ft) CEP. Component testing on modified Atlas D missiles began in March 1960, and in February 1961 the first full Atlas E flight occurred. The SM-65E became operational in September 1961. Because the all-inertial guidance system did away with the necessity to launch the missile close to the launch control center of the base, the Atlas E was deployed in widely dispersed patterns. Adding also new semi-buried coffins, the Atlas E was significantly better (but still not satisfactorily) protected against a preemptive strike than the D model. The USM-65E was the unarmed training version of the Atlas E.

The vehicles converted for space launch use and launched from Vandenberg AFB used a radio guidance system that was based on a modification of the General Electric Radio Tracking System (GERTS), originally employed on the Atlas D. In fact, the GERTS guidance used for space launch employed one of the original radar stations used for the Atlas D and even used some actual Atlas D components in its Pulse Beacon Decoder, the vehicle's X-band radio transponder. Newer solid state computers were used to run the guidance software and were interfaced with the radar; eventually they were made redundant, although with a human operator charged with detecting failure.

The large Bosch-Arma pod on the side of the Atlas E and F space boosters launched from Vandenberg AFB from the mid-70's to the mid-90's was in fact empty. It was not removed and replaced with a more streamlined fairing since that would have cost money and gained no significant performance. So, the Atlas E and F space boosters used Atlas E and F ICBM airframes and engines with the tanks modified with a new payload interface section, a mixture of Atlas E and F components (selected based on which designs were most suitable for the space launch mission) and a modified Atlas D radio guidance system.

GERTS was a complex, glitch-prone system, its only saving graces being that it was both the cheapest guidance system around and the most reliable, operating for almost 30 years without one flight failure and at a per-flight cost an order of magnitude below that of an inertial guidance system. Prior to Apollo-Saturn, all U.S. manned orbital flights used GERTS, both on the Mercury-Atlas D and the Gemini-Titan II missions.

The proper way to refer to the space booster Atlas E's and F's was "Atlas E-F Space Booster," because of the mix of configuration features. Of course, individually the boosters were referred to by their "Tail Numbers" such as 19F, 76E, 68E, etc. The total launched cost of an Atlas E-F space booster was about $15M - or less than 1-3 the cost of a Titan II space booster, and less than 1-20th what was finally admitted as the cost of a single Space Shuttle mission. About 35 unmodified Atlas E-F missiles in storage at Norton AFB were scrapped in the early 1970's. The Space Shuttle was coming and it was assumed that they were not needed. The cost of maintaining them in storage was "horrendous" - about $2000 each per year. At least a half billion dollars worth of perfectly usable, incredibly cheap space boosters (equivalent to a couple of billon dollars in replacement costs) were run over with a bulldozer in order to save perhaps one million dollars in storage costs overtwenty years . The Air Force officer who recommended this travesty of planning received a medal for his farsightedness.

Photo Gallery

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Atlas E Atlas E - COSPAR 1991-032

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Atlas E Credit: US Air Force

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• US ICBM production limited to four Atlas and two Titan missiles per month - .

  Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson directed that the ICBM program be limited to a maximum monthly production of four Atlas and two Titan missiles rather than the "4-4" program ordered on 9 August. With other areas also reduced, the Titan program became essentially a research and development effort.

• Air Force Ballistic Missile program cuts - .

  The Air Force Ballistic Missile Committee reviewed the revised AFBMD FY 1958 program that resulted from OSD decisions and directives of August that cut the program from $1,135 billion to $944 million. A 4-4-2 monthly production rate was approved for Atlas, Titan, and Thor missiles, and program slippages were accepted in response to Secretary Wilson's guidance of 9 August. The program was later submitted to OSD/BMC and approved on 5 October 1957.

• USAF augmented program for ballistic missiles - .

  Headquarters USAF presented its revised and augmented program for ballistic missile development to the Secretary of Defense and the Armed Forces Policy Council. Nine Atlas squadrons were proposed, the first to become operational in June 1959 and the ninth in June 1963 and eight Titan squadrons, the first to be operational in March 1961 and the last in June 1963.

• Highest priority to ballistic missiles, spy satellites, and ballistic missile early detection. - . Related Persons: , Eisenhower. Spacecraft: WS-117.

  President Eisenhower directed the highest and equal national priority for Atlas, Titan, Thor, Jupiter, the WS 117L advanced military satellite system, and WS 224A BMEWS. This action returned the Titan program to its previous highest national priority status.

• Scheduled design complete (95%) for Atlas E-series missiles - . Nation: USA.

• Atlas E/F silo-based squadrons increased by one silo each. - . Atlas E/F silo-lift strategic missile squadrons were enlarged from 9-12 launchers to 10-13 each. In these units, the Atlas missiles would be maintained in hardened underground silos..

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). First E missile flown with MA-3 engine, unsuccessful.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi). Atlas missile 9E made the first successful flight test of the Series E Atlas missile. First successful Atlas E flight..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi).

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi).

• Research and development Category II test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Atlas 27E was to be the first Series E operational test launch (OTL) from Vandenberg. However, the missile self-destructed over the launch pad due to a first stage engine failure at T+4 seconds. First E launched at SMS 576 from OSTF-1, unsuccessful.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

• First Atlas E operational complex - .

  Complex 576C (576C Strategic Missile Squadron), the first Atlas E operational complex, was transferred to SAC at Vandenberg AFB. The 576C consisted of one above ground horizontal coffin storage/launcher hardened to withstand 25 pounds per-square inch (psi).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi). Atlas missile 22E completed a flight of 7,863 nautical miles (9,050 statute miles), with the nose cone landing 1,000 miles southeast of Capetown, South Africa..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi).

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Atlas SMS 567 operational. - . Nation: USA. Fairchild AFB SMS 567 operational.

• Research and development / Pod 7 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi). USAF Atlas fired 9,000 miles for Atlantic Missile Range into Indian Ocean, carrying dummy nuclear warhead and a data capsule which was recovered..

• Atlas SMS 548 operational. - . Nation: USA. Forbes AFB SMS 548 operational.

• Research and development test / Pod 13 chemical release - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). USAF Atlas with capsule containing squirrel monkey destroyed by range safety officer at Atlantic Missile Range when main sustainer engine failed 15 seconds after launch..

• Atlas SMS 549 operational. - . Nation: USA. Warren-3 AFB SMS 549 operational.

• Warren AFB - .

  The third and final Series E Atlas missile squadron of nine missiles, the 566th Strategic Missile Squadron of the 706th Strategic Missile Wing at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, became operational. The wing now had three squadrons - two Atlas D and one Atlas E - and a total of 24 missile launchers.

• Research and development / Pod 23 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi).

• Research and development/Pod Test/Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi).

  Atlas 40E, the 18th and last Atlas E research and development flight test missile to be launched from the Atlantic Missile Range, completed its programmed 7,000-mile flight downrange. Of the 18 missiles launched, nine were successes, seven partials, and two failures. Last Atlas E R&D flight.

• Research and development Category II test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi).

• Research and development Category II test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). After two consecutive failures, the first successful launch and flight by an Atlas E (67E) from Vandenberg AFB took place. .

• NTMP K-4 ABM test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi). First successful E missile from OSTF-1, SMS 576.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi).

• Atlas E weapon system - . Responsibility for the Atlas E weapon system was transferred from BSD (AFSC) to the Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC)..

• Demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi). Atlas 69E successfully led off the seven-missile Atlas E operational program launch series from Vandenberg. .

• Demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• Demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi).

• NTMP/OT DASO test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi).

• Demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

• ST - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).

• ABRES WAC-3 / Pod 18 Re-entry vehicle test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Spacecraft: ABRES. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi). The first and only Atlas E (5E) ABRES vehicle to be launched from Cape Canaveral completed a successful flight down the Atlantic Missile Range..

• Phase out plan for Atlas and Titan I ICBM's. - . The Defense Department tentatively established phase out of the Atlas E and Titan I missiles during the third and fourth quarters of FY1965 (January-June 1965) and that of the Atlas F in FY1968..

• Atlas E update program completed - . The Atlas E update program was completed nearly two months ahead of schedule..

• ST/KX-48 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi).

• Atlas E,F, and Titan I ICBMs to be retired from the active operational inventory. - . Related Persons: , McNamara.

  Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara officially announced his decision to retire Atlas E,F, and Titan I ICBM weapon systems from the active operational inventory. They were said to be no longer supportable from requirements, cost, or manpower use standpoints. Moreover, the relative slow-reacting, liquid-fueled Atlas and Titan I missiles had provided the initial deterrent that was necessary and would now be replaced by the less vulnerable, more easily maintained Minuteman and Titan II ICBMs.

• By June 1965, 150 more ICBM sites would be inactivated. - .

  The Defense Department announced that by the end of FY1965 (June 1965), 150 more ICBM sites would be inactivated and the Atlas E, F, and Titan I missiles removed and placed in storage. The missiles werer stored at San Bernardino Air Materiel Area (SBAMA) facilities at Norton AFB, California. The retired missiles would be replaced by more advanced Minuteman missiles whose annual combat-ready costs were $100,000 per missile compared to nearly $1.0 million for each of the older, more complicated liquid-fueled ICBMs.. In addition, manpower savings would be substantial since only 12 men were required for support of each Minuteman versus approximately 80 for each Atlas or Titan.

• Atlas and Titan I ICBMs to be retired - .

  These were: two Atlas E units, the 566th Strategic Missile Squadron (SMS) at Warren and the 548th SMS at Forbes AFB, Kansas; three Atlas F squadrons, the 577th SMS at Altus, the 578th SMS at Dyess, and the 579th SMS at Walker; and three Titan I squadrons, the 851st SMS at Beale, the 850th SMS at Ellsworth, and the 568th SMS at Larson AFB, Washington.

• The final Atlas E missile retired from the operational inventory. - . The final Atlas E missile was removed from its launcher/storage site at Fairchild AFB, Washington, and was retired from the operational inventory..

• The remaining seven Atlas and Titan I squadrons assigned to SAC were inactivated. - .

  These included the last Atlas E squadron, the 567th Strategic Missile Squadron (SMS) at Fairchild; three Atlas F units at Schilling (550th SMS), Lincoln (551st SMS), and Plattsburgh (556th SMS); and three Titan I squadrons, and the 569th SMS at Mountain Home along with the two units at Lowry, the 724th and 725th SMSs. These actions concluded the phase out of all Atlas and Titan I ICBMs in the SAC operational inventory.

• ABRES RVTO-1A-1 re-entry vehicle test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Spacecraft: ABRES. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi).

• AMS 5 - . Payload: DMSP S-6 / OPS 9845. Mass: 750 kg (1,650 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: TIROS N. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D-2. USAF Sat Cat: 13736 . COSPAR: 1982-118A. Apogee: 810 km (500 mi). Perigee: 797 km (495 mi). Inclination: 98.60 deg. Period: 100.90 min. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

• NOAA 8 - . Payload: NOAA E. Mass: 3,775 kg (8,322 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NOAA. Program: Tiros. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: Advanced Tiros N. USAF Sat Cat: 13923 . COSPAR: 1983-022A. Apogee: 817 km (507 mi). Perigee: 793 km (492 mi). Inclination: 98.60 deg. Period: 101.00 min. Carried search and rescue package. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .

• DMSP-Block-5B5D2-2 - . Payload: DMSP S-7 / OPS 1294. Mass: 750 kg (1,650 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: TIROS N. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D-2. USAF Sat Cat: 14506 . COSPAR: 1983-113A. Apogee: 818 km (508 mi). Perigee: 801 km (497 mi). Inclination: 98.40 deg. Period: 101.10 min. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

• NOAA 9 - . Payload: NOAA F. Mass: 1,712 kg (3,774 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NOAA. Program: Tiros. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: Advanced Tiros N. USAF Sat Cat: 15427 . COSPAR: 1984-123A. Apogee: 855 km (531 mi). Perigee: 833 km (517 mi). Inclination: 99.10 deg. Period: 101.80 min. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .

• NOAA 10 - . Payload: NOAA G. Mass: 1,700 kg (3,700 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NOAA. Program: Tiros. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: Advanced Tiros N. USAF Sat Cat: 16969 . COSPAR: 1986-073A. Apogee: 816 km (507 mi). Perigee: 795 km (493 mi). Inclination: 98.50 deg. Period: 101.00 min. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .

• USA 26 - . Payload: DMSP S-9/Star 37S S/N 15019. Mass: 750 kg (1,650 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: TIROS N. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D-2. USAF Sat Cat: 18123 . COSPAR: 1987-053A. Apogee: 848 km (526 mi). Perigee: 828 km (514 mi). Inclination: 98.80 deg. Period: 101.70 min. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

• USA 29 - . Payload: DMSP S-8/Star 37S S/N 15021. Mass: 750 kg (1,650 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: TIROS N. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D-2. USAF Sat Cat: 18822 . COSPAR: 1988-006A. Apogee: 817 km (507 mi). Perigee: 807 km (501 mi). Inclination: 98.50 deg. Period: 101.10 min. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

• NOAA 11 - . Payload: NOAA H. Mass: 1,712 kg (3,774 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NOAA. Program: Tiros. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: Advanced Tiros N. USAF Sat Cat: 19531 . COSPAR: 1988-089A. Apogee: 854 km (530 mi). Perigee: 838 km (520 mi). Inclination: 99.20 deg. Period: 101.90 min. Carried search & rescue package. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .

• USA 68 - . Payload: DMSP S-10. Mass: 750 kg (1,650 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: TIROS N. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D-2. USAF Sat Cat: 20978 . COSPAR: 1990-105A. Apogee: 837 km (520 mi). Perigee: 724 km (449 mi). Inclination: 98.70 deg. Period: 100.50 min. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program; broken nozzle prevented satellite from reaching desired orbit..

• NOAA 12 - . Payload: NOAA D. Mass: 1,416 kg (3,121 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NOAA. Program: Tiros. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: Tiros N. USAF Sat Cat: 21263 . COSPAR: 1991-032A. Apogee: 824 km (512 mi). Perigee: 805 km (500 mi). Inclination: 98.60 deg. Period: 101.20 min. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). .

• USA 73 - . Payload: DMSP S-12/Star 37S S/N 15029. Mass: 830 kg (1,820 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: TIROS N. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D-2. USAF Sat Cat: 21798 . COSPAR: 1991-082A. Apogee: 852 km (529 mi). Perigee: 835 km (518 mi). Inclination: 99.00 deg. Period: 101.80 min. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. 500th Atlas launch..

• NOAA 13 - . Payload: NOAA I. Mass: 1,712 kg (3,774 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NOAA. Program: Tiros. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: Advanced Tiros N. USAF Sat Cat: 22739 . COSPAR: 1993-050A. Apogee: 860 km (530 mi). Perigee: 846 km (525 mi). Inclination: 99.20 deg. Period: 102.00 min. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .

• USA 106 - . Payload: DMSP 23545/Star 37S S/N 15030 / DMSP 5D-1 F12. Mass: 830 kg (1,820 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: TIROS N. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D-2. USAF Sat Cat: 23233 . COSPAR: 1994-057A. Apogee: 860 km (530 mi). Perigee: 840 km (520 mi). Inclination: 98.89 deg. Period: 101.94 min. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

• NOAA 14 - . Payload: NOAA K. Mass: 1,712 kg (3,774 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NOAA. Program: Tiros. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: Advanced Tiros N. USAF Sat Cat: 23455 . COSPAR: 1994-089A. Apogee: 861 km (534 mi). Perigee: 847 km (526 mi). Inclination: 98.88 deg. Period: 102.02 min.

• USA 109 - . Payload: DMSP 24547/Star 37S / DMSP F13. Mass: 750 kg (1,650 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: TIROS N. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D-2. USAF Sat Cat: 23533 . COSPAR: 1995-015A. Apogee: 854 km (530 mi). Perigee: 845 km (525 mi). Inclination: 98.80 deg. Period: 101.90 min. Last successful Atlas E space launch..