ATLAS I-CENTAUR FACT SHEET

By Cliff Lethbridge

Atlas I-Centaur On Launch Pad, Photo Courtesy NASA

Classification: Space Launch Vehicle

Length: 137 feet, 10 inches (with medium fairing)

Length: 144 feet (with large fairing)

Diameter: 10 feet

Date of First Cape Canaveral Launch: April 18, 1991

Date of Final Cape Canaveral Launch: April 25, 1997

Number of Cape Canaveral Launches: 10

Introduced in 1987, the Atlas I-Centaur employed two Rocketdyne booster engines capable of producing a combined thrust of 377,500 pounds. A Rocketdyne sustainer engine provided 60,500 pounds of thrust. Two Rocketdyne vernier engines provided an additional thrust of 669 pounds each. The booster, sustainer and vernier engines all burned liquid oxygen/RP-1 (kerosene) liquid fuel. With the medium fairing, the Atlas I-Centaur could carry a 13,000-pound payload to low-Earth orbit, a 5,150-pound payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit or a 3,350-pound payload to Earth-escape trajectory. With the large fairing, the Atlas I-Centaur could carry a 12,550-pound payload to low-Earth orbit, a 4,950-pound payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit or a 3,100-pound payload to Earth-escape trajectory.