List of Atlas launches (1970–1979)

Main article: List of Atlas launches
List of Atlas launches
1957–1959 · 1960–1969 · 1970–1979 · 1980–1989 · 1990–1999 · 2000–2009 · 2010–2019 · 2020–2029

Launch statistics

Rocket configurations

2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
  •   Atlas-Agena
  •   Atlas SLV
  •   Atlas E/F

Launch sites

2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
1970
'71
'72
'73
'74
'75
'76
'77
'78
'79
  •   Cape Canaveral LC-13
  •   Cape Canaveral SLC-36A
  •   Cape Canaveral SLC-36B
  •   Vandenberg LC-576A
  •   Vandenberg SLC-3E
  •   Vandenberg SLC-3W

Launch outcomes

2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
1970
'71
'72
'73
'74
'75
'76
'77
'78
'79
  •   Success
  •   Partial failure
  •   Failure

1970

Date/Time
(UTC) 		Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1970-02-08 Atlas E/F-Trident 96F VAFB LC-576A-3 REV test Suborbital Success
1970-03-13 Atlas E/F-Trident 28F VAFB LC-576A-3 REV test Suborbital Success
1970-05-30 Atlas E/F-Trident 91F VAFB LC-576A-3 REV test Suborbital Success
1970-06-09 Atlas E/F 92F VAFB LC-576A-1 REV test Suborbital Success
1970-06-19
11:37 		Atlas-Agena D SLV-3A 5201A CCAFS LC-13 AFP-720 (Rhyolite-1) ELINT GTO Success
1970-09-01
01:00 		Atlas-Agena D SLV-3A 5203A CCAFS LC-13 AFP-827 (Canyon-3) ELINT GTO Success
1970-11-30
22:40:05 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3C AC-21 CCAFS LC-36B OAO-B Astronomy LEO (target) Failure Payload fairing failed to separate
1970-12-22
08:38 		Atlas E/F-Trident 105F VAFB LC-576A-3 REV test Suborbital Success

1971

Date/Time
(UTC) 		Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1971-01-26
00:36:03 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3C AC-25 CCAFS LC-36A Intelsat IV F2 Comsat GTO Success
1971-04-05 Atlas E/F 85F VAFB LC-576A-1 REV test Suborbital Success
1971-05-09
01:11:02 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3C AC-24 CCAFS LC-36A Mariner 8 Mars probe Heliocentric (target) Failure Damaged circuit board in Centaur resulted in control failure and engine shutdown at T+365 seconds.
1971-05-30
22:23:04 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3C AC-23 CCAFS LC-36B Mariner 9 Mars probe Heliocentric Success
1971-06-29
13:10 		Atlas E/F-Trident 103F VAFB LC-576A-3 REV test Suborbital Success
1971-08-07
00:11 		Atlas E/F-OV1 76F VAFB LC-576A-2 OV1-20
OV1-21 		LEO Success
1971-09-01 Atlas E/F 74F VAFB LC-576A-1 REV test Suborbital Success
1971-12-04
22:33 		Atlas-Agena D SLV-3A 5503A CCAFS LC-13 AFP-827 (Canyon-4) ELINT GTO (target) Failure Sustainer shut down due to gas generator failure. RSO T+62 seconds.
1971-12-20
01:10:04 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3C AC-26 CCAFS LC-36A Intelsat IV F3 Comsat GTO Success

1972

Date/Time
(UTC) 		Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1972-01-23
00:12:04 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3C AC-28 CCAFS LC-36B Intelsat IV F4 Comsat GTO Success
1972-03-03
01:49:04 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3C AC-27 CCAFS LC-36A Pioneer 10 Jupiter probe Heliocentric Success First probe to visit Jupiter
Solar System escape velocity achieved on Jupiter fly-by
1972-06-13
21:53:04 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3C AC-29 CCAFS LC-36B Intelsat IV F5 Comsat GTO Success
1972-08-21
10:28:02 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3C AC-22 CCAFS LC-36B OAO-3 Astronomy LEO Success Final flight of Atlas-Centaur SLV-3C
1972-10-02
20:10 		Atlas E/F-Burner-2A 102F VAFB LC-576A-1 P72-1 LEO Success
1972-12-20
22:20 		Atlas-Agena D SLV-3A 5204A CCAFS LC-13 AFP-827 (Canyon-5) ELINT GTO Success

1973

Date/Time
(UTC) 		Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1973-03-06
09:30 		Atlas-Agena D SLV-3A 5202A CCAFS LC-13 AFP-720 (Rhyolite-2) ELINT GTO Success
1973-04-06
02:11:00 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-30 CCAFS LC-36B Pioneer 11 Planetary probe Heliocentric Success Maiden flight of Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D
First probe to visit Saturn
Solar System escape velocity achieved on Jupiter fly-by
1973-08-23
22:57:02 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-31 CCAFS LC-36A Intelsat IV F7 Comsat GTO Success
1973-08-29 Atlas E/F 78F VAFB LC-576A-3 REV test Suborbital Success
1973-09-30 Atlas E/F 108F VAFB LC-576A-1 REV test Suborbital Success
1973-11-03
05:45:00 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-34 CCAFS LC-36B Mariner 10 Planetary probe Heliocentric Success

1974

Date/Time
(UTC) 		Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1974-03-06 Atlas E/F 73F VAFB LC-576A-1 REV test Suborbital Success
1974-03-23 Atlas E/F 97F VAFB LC-576A-3 REV test Suborbital Success
1974-05-01 Atlas E/F 54F VAFB LC-576A-1 REV test Suborbital Success
1974-06-28 Atlas E/F 82F VAFB LC-576A-1 REV test Suborbital Success
1974-07-14
05:17 		Atlas E/F-PTS 69F VAFB SLC-3W P73-3 LEO Success
1974-09-08 Atlas E/F 80F VAFB LC-576A-1 REV test Suborbital Success
1974-10-14
04:46 		Atlas E/F 31F VAFB LC-576A-3 REV test Suborbital Success
1974-11-21
23:43:59 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-32 CCAFS LC-36B Intelsat IV F8 Comsat GTO Success

1975

Date/Time
(UTC) 		Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1975-02-20
23:35:00 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-33 CCAFS LC-36A Intelsat IV F6 Comsat GTO (target) Failure Improper separation of a lanyard during booster jettison reset the Atlas programmer and caused erroneous flight path. RSO T+413 seconds.
1975-04-13
00:51 		Atlas E/F-Star-17A 71F VAFB SLC-3W P72-2 LEO (target) Failure Rocket damaged by explosion of LOX/RP-1 glob in flame trench during launch, leading to sustainer engine failure during ascent. RSO T+303 seconds.
1975-05-22
22:04:00 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-35 CCAFS LC-36A Intelsat IV F1 Comsat GTO Success
1975-06-18
09:00:00 		Atlas-Agena D SLV-3A 5506A CCAFS LC-13 AFP-827 (Canyon-6) ELINT GTO Success
1975-09-26
00:17:00 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-36 CCAFS LC-36B Intelsat IVA F1 Comsat GTO Success

1976

Date/Time
(UTC) 		Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1976-01-29
23:56 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-37 CCAFS LC-36B Intelsat IVA F2 Comsat GTO Success
1976-04-30
19:12 		Atlas E/F-MSD 59F VAFB SLC-3W OPS-6431 (NOSS-1) ELINT LEO Success
1976-05-13
22:28 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-38 CCAFS LC-36A Comstar D1 Comsat GTO Success
1976-07-22
22:04:00 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-40 CCAFS LC-36B Comstar D2 Comsat GTO Success

1977

Date/Time
(UTC) 		Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1977-05-23
18:13:00 		Atlas-Agena D SLV-3A 5507A CCAFS LC-13 AFP-827 (Canyon-7) ELINT GTO Success
1977-05-26
21:47:01 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-39 CCAFS LC-36A Intelsat IVA F4 Comsat GTO Success
1977-06-23
09:16 		Atlas E/F-SGS-1 65F VAFB SLC-3W NTS-2 Technology MEO Success
1977-08-12
06:29:31 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-45 CCAFS LC-36B HEAO-1 Astronomy LEO Success
1977-09-30
01:02:59 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-43 CCAFS LC-36A Intelsat IVA F5 Comsat GTO Failure Corroded plumbing resulted in a gas generator leak and thrust section fire during ascent. Vehicle self-destructed T+55 seconds.
1977-12-08
17:45 		Atlas E/F-MSD 50F VAFB SLC-3W OPS-8781 (NOSS-2) ELINT LEO Success
1977-12-11
22:45:01 		Atlas-Agena D SLV-3A 5504A CCAFS LC-13 OPS-4258 (Aquacade-3) ELINT GTO Success

1978

Date/Time
(UTC) 		Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1978-01-07
00:15:00 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-46 CCAFS LC-36B Intelsat IVA F3 Comsat GTO Success
1978-02-09
21:17:01 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-44 CCAFS LC-36A FLTSATCOM-1 Comsat GTO Success
1978-02-22
23:44 		Atlas E/F-SVS 64F VAFB SLC-3E GPS-1 Navigation MEO Success
1978-03-31
23:36:01 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-48 CCAFS LC-36B Intelsat IVA F6 Comsat GTO Success
1978-04-07
00:45:01 		Atlas-Agena D SLV-3A 5505A CCAFS LC-13 OPS-8790 Aquacade-4 ELINT GTO Success Final flight of standard Atlas-Agena
1978-05-13
10:34 		Atlas E/F-SVS 49F VAFB SLC-3E GPS-2 Navigation satellite MEO Success
1978-05-20
13:13:00 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-50 CCAFS LC-36A Pioneer Venus Orbiter Venus probe Heliocentric Success
1978-06-27
01:12 		Atlas E/F-Agena D 23F VAFB SLC-3W Seasat Remote sensing LEO Success Final Atlas-Agena flight, using a modified Atlas F missile.
1978-06-29
22:24:59 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-41 CCAFS LC-36B Comstar D3 Comsat GTO Success
1978-08-08
07:33 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-51 CCAFS LC-36A Pioneer Venus Multiprobe Venus probe Heliocentric Success
1978-10-07
00:28 		Atlas E/F-SVS 47F VAFB SLC-3E GPS-3 Navigation satellite MEO Success
1978-10-13
11:23 		Atlas E/F-Star-37S-ISS 29F VAFB SLC-3W TIROS-N Weather satellite LEO Success
1978-11-13
05:24 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-52 CCAFS LC-36B HEAO-2 Astronomy LEO Success
1978-12-11
03:59 		Atlas E/F-SVS 39F VAFB SLC-3E GPS-4 Navigation satellite MEO Success

1979

Date/Time
(UTC) 		Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
24 February 1979
08:20 		Atlas E/F-OIS 27F VAFB, SLC-3W Solwind Solar LEO Success
4 May 1979
18:57:00 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-47 CCAFS, LC-36A FLTSATCOM-2 Comsat GTO Success
27 June 1979
15:51:59 		Atlas E/F-Star-37S-ISS 25F VAFB, SLC-3W NOAA-6 (NOAA-A) Weather satellite SSO Success
20 September 1979
05:28 		Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D AC-53 CCAFS, LC-36B HEAO-3 Astronomy LEO Success
  • Launch of Pioneer 10, the first probe to Jupiter and first probe to go beyond the planets of the Solar System
    Launch of Pioneer 10, the first probe to Jupiter and first probe to go beyond the planets of the Solar System
  • Maiden flight of the Atlas SLV-3D, launch of Pioneer 11, the first probe to visit Saturn
    Maiden flight of the Atlas SLV-3D, launch of Pioneer 11, the first probe to visit Saturn
  • Launch of Mariner 10, the first probe to visit Mercury
    Launch of Mariner 10, the first probe to visit Mercury

References

  • McDowell, Jonathan. "Atlas". Orbital and Suborbital launch database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  • Wade, Mark. "Atlas". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on August 14, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-20.