Space and Astronomy Atlas

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Spacecraft

Atlas V

Launch Vehicle

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Atlas V is an expendable medium-lift launch vehicle, the fifth major member of the Atlas rocket family, developed by Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program and first flown in August 2002. United Launch Alliance, the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture formed in 2006, has operated Atlas V since its founding and used it to launch missions including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, New Horizons, Juno, Perseverance and Boeing's first crewed Starliner test flight. ULA stopped selling new Atlas V launches in 2021 and is retiring the rocket in favor of its successor, Vulcan Centaur, with remaining contracted launches continuing into the mid-2020s.

Facts
Spacecraft Type
Expendable medium-lift launch vehicle 1
Launch Date
2002-08-21 1
Manufacturer
United Launch Alliance (originally developed by Lockheed Martin) 1
Status
Being retired; ULA stopped selling new Atlas V launches in 2021 and is fulfilling remaining contracts while transitioning to its successor, Vulcan Centaur. 1
Cross-Tradition Connections

Operated By

Developed by Lockheed Martin; operated by United Launch Alliance, the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture, since 2006.

Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationAtlas V article, overview and development
Quote, Atlas V article, overview and development
The vehicle made its inaugural flight on August 21, 2002
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationAtlas V article, development and first launch section
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationAtlas V article, operator section
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationAtlas V article, retirement timeline section
Quote, Atlas V article, retirement timeline section
are no longer selling launches on the Atlas V
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