Atlas-Able

The Atlas-Able 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 used to launch several Pioneer spacecraft towards the Moon. Of the five Atlas-Able rockets built, two failed during static firings, and the other three failed to reach orbit.^[1]

Atlas-Able

The Atlas-D Able rocket carrying Pioneer P-3, sitting on Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 14.
Manufacturer	Convair Division of General Dynamics
Country of origin	United States
Size
Height	28 m (91 ft)
Diameter	3.05 m (10 ft)
Stages	3.5
Booster stage – Half Stage
Powered by	2
Maximum thrust	300,000 lbf (1,300 kN) Atlas D
Propellant	RP-1/LOX
First stage – Sustainer
Powered by	1
Maximum thrust	60,000 lbf (270 kN) Atlas D
Propellant	RP-1/LOX
Second stage – Able
Powered by	1 AJ10-37
Maximum thrust	7,800 lbf (35 kN)
Specific impulse	270
Burn time	115
Propellant	Nitric Acid / UDMH
Third stage – Altair
Powered by	1
Propellant	solid
Capacity
Payload to Trans-lunar injection
Mass	168 kg (370 lb)
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	LC-12, 13 & 14, Cape Canaveral
Total launches	3
Failure(s)	3
First flight	26 November 1959
Last flight	15 December 1960

The Atlas-Able was a three-and-a-half-stage rocket, with a stage-and-a-half Atlas missile as the first stage, an Able second stage, and an Altair third stage.^[2]

The first Atlas-Able used an Atlas C as the first stage,^[3] and was intended to carry Pioneer P-1, but exploded during a static fire test on 24 September 1959.^[4]

The remaining Pioneer launches used Atlas D missiles. Launches were conducted from Launch Complexes 12 and 14 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. One launch was planned from Launch Complex 13; this became the second Atlas-Able to be destroyed during a static firing, and hence never launched.^[1]

Launches

Launches of Atlas-Able^[2][3]

Date	Serial No.	Mission	Launch Site	Outcome	Photo
-	Atlas 9C	Pioneer P-1	LC-12	Failure. Explosion during a static fire test.[5]
26 November 1959	Atlas 20D	Pioneer P-3	LC-14	Failure. The Payload fairing broke up at 45 seconds after liftoff, causing loss of the upper stage and payload.[6]: 24
25 September 1960	Atlas 80D	Pioneer P-30	LC-12	Failure.[7] A propellant feed on the second stage had a malfunction.[6]: 26
15 December 1960	Atlas 91D	Pioneer P-31	LC-12	Failure.[8] Vibration and/or debris from the Able adapter section ruptured the liquid oxygen tank of Atlas, causing an explosion.