Space Launch Now - Atlas Agena A

Atlas Agena A

In-active

Convair ()

Feb. 26, 1960

Description

The Atlas-Agena was an American expendable launch system derived from the SM-65 Atlas missile. It was a member of the Atlas family of rockets, and was launched 109 times between 1960 and 1978.

Specifications

Stages
2
Length
36.0 m
Diameter
3.0 m
Fairing Diameter
3.0 m
Launch Mass
155.0 T
Thrust
1340.0 kN

Family

Name
Atlas Agena A
Family
―
Variant
Agena A
Alias
―
Full Name
Atlas LV-3 Agena A

Payload Capacity

Launch Cost
―
Low Earth Orbit
1000.0 kg
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
―
Direct Geostationary
700.0 kg
Sun-Synchronous Capacity
―

Convair

Commercial

None

1943

Convair, previously Consolidated Vultee, was an American aircraft manufacturing company that later expanded into rockets and spacecraft. The company was formed in 1943 by the merger of Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee Aircraft. In 1953 it was purchased by General Dynamics, and operated as their Convair Division for most of its corporate history.

Previous Flights

flew on three previous launch(es).

Atlas Agena A | Samos 1

Convair | United States of America
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Oct. 11, 1960, 8:33 p.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

A Satellite and Missile Observation satallite which failed to enter orbit due to a failure in the launch vehicle guidance system

Low Earth Orbit

Explore Share

Atlas Agena A | Midas 2

Convair | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
May 24, 1960, 5:36 p.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The MIDAS Series 1 (Military Defense Alarm System) satellites, MIDAS 1 and 2, were the first development models for the MIDAS early warning system.

Low Earth Orbit

Explore Share

Atlas Agena A | Midas 1

Convair | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Feb. 26, 1960, 5:25 p.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

The MIDAS Series 1 (Military Defense Alarm System) satellites, MIDAS 1 and 2, were the first development models for the MIDAS early warning system.

Low Earth Orbit

Explore Share

Recent Launches

Falcon 9

Success

5 days, 12 hours ago

Starlink Group 10-48

Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.

Falcon 9

Success

6 days, 10 hours ago

Starlink Group 17-31

Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.

Long March 2D

Success

1 week ago

Shiyan 30 03-04

Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1) - Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

A pair of Chinese satellites reported to be for "Earth observation technological testing and validation" purposes. Actual usage not known.

Long March 8A

Success

1 week ago

SatNet LEO Group 20

Commercial LC-1 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

A batch of 9 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites for the Chinese state owned SatNet constellation operated by the China Satellite Network Group.…

Firefly Alpha

Success

1 week, 1 day ago

Stairway to Seven

Space Launch Complex 2W - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Firefly Alpha's Flight 7 is a test flight and return-To-Flight for the launch vehicle after its April 2025 launch failure. It will test and validate …