SM-65 Atlas

E52127

intercontinental ballistic missile space launch vehicle

The SM-65 Atlas was the United States’ first operational intercontinental ballistic missile, later adapted as a pioneering space launch vehicle in the early space program.

Aliases (4)

Statements (48)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	intercontinental ballistic missile → space launch vehicle →
alsoKnownAs	Atlas ICBM →
configuration	stage-and-a-half →
countryOfOrigin	United States →
deploymentMode	above-ground launchers → coffin-type shelters → silo-lift launchers →
developedBy	United States Air Force →
developedUnderProgram	Weapon System 107A-1 →
engineManufacturer	Rocketdyne →
engineType	liquid-fuel rocket engine →
enteredService	1959 →
firstFlightDate	1957-06-11 →
firstSuccessfulICBMFlightDate	1958-12-17 →
fuel	RP-1 kerosene →
guidanceSystem	inertial guidance → radio-inertial guidance →
launchedAstronaut	John Glenn →
launchedMission	Mercury-Atlas 6 →
launchSitesUsed	Cape Canaveral Air Force Station → Vandenberg Air Force Base →
manufacturer	Convair →
maximumRange	approximately 9000 miles →
notableFeature	balloon tank stainless-steel structure → thin-wall pressure-stabilized tanks →
notableLaunch	Friendship 7 →
oxidizer	liquid oxygen →
partOf	United States nuclear deterrent →
programStart	early 1950s →
propellantType	liquid-fueled →
retiredFromICBMService	1965 →
role	orbital launch vehicle → strategic missile →
status	retired →
successor	Titan II ICBM →
successorAsLaunchVehicle	Atlas LV-3B → Atlas-Agena → Atlas-Centaur →
usedAsLaunchVehicleFor	Mercury program → Project Mercury crewed missions → early communications satellites → early weather satellites → scientific satellites →
usedBy	NASA → United States Air Force →
usedIn	Cold War →
warheadType	thermonuclear warhead →

Referenced by (6)

Subject (surface form when different)	Predicate
Atlas ("SM-65 Atlas ballistic missile") → Atlas-Centaur →	developedFrom
United States rocket program ("Atlas rocket") →	developed
Atlas-Centaur ("Atlas missile program") →	heritage
Mercury program ("Atlas rocket") →	launchVehicle
Convair ("SM-65 Atlas ICBM") →	notableProduct