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Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36

Launch complex at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Brevard County, Florida 36

Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36

Summary

Launch complex at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Brevard County, Florida 36

FieldValue
nameLaunch Complex 36
imageBlue Origin New Glenn Rocket Successful Launch (9387521) (cropped).jpg
captionLC-36 in November 2025, during the launch of ESCAPADE on a New Glenn rocket
image_size300px
siteCape Canaveral Space Force Station
coordinates
utc_offset−05:00
time_zoneEST
utc_offset_DST−04:00
time_zone_DSTEDT
shortLC-36
operatorUnited States Space Force (owner)
Space Florida (tenant)
Blue Origin (subtenant)
tlaunches147
inclination28° - 57°
paddetails{{Infobox launch pad/pad
designationLC-36
statusActive
launches2
first16 January 2025
first_detailsNew Glenn 7×2 (Blue Ring)
last13 November 2025
last_detailsNew Glenn 7×2 (ESCAPADE)
rocketsCurrent: New Glenn 7×2
Future: New Glenn 9×4
Plans cancelled: Athena III
designationLC-36A
statusDemolished
launches69
firstMay 18, 1962
first_detailsAtlas-Centaur (AC-1)
lastAugust 31, 2004
last_detailsAtlas II (NROL-1)
rocketsRetired: Atlas-Centaur, Atlas II
designationLC-36B
statusDemolished
launches76
firstAugust 11, 1965
first_detailsAtlas-Centaur (Surveyor SD-2)
lastFebruary 3, 2005
last_detailsAtlas III (NROL-23)
rocketsRetired: Atlas-Centaur, Atlas G, Atlas I, Atlas II, Atlas III

Space Florida (tenant) Blue Origin (subtenant) Future: New Glenn 9×4 Plans cancelled: Athena III

Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) is a launch complex located at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Located south of the Missile Row launch range, the complex originally consisted of two pads—designated LC-36A and LC-36B—to support the flights of Atlas launch vehicles equipped with a Centaur upper stage. From the 1960s to the 1980s, LC-36 was used by NASA and the United States Air Force to launch many payloads from the Atlas-Centaur and its derivatives, including the Pioneer, Surveyor, and Mariner probes. During the late 1980s, LC-36B was also used to launch the Atlas G, and General Dynamics (and later Lockheed Martin) modified the two pads to support the larger Atlas I, Atlas II, and Atlas III throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

Following the Atlas program's relocation to Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) in 2005, LC-36 stood vacant until Blue Origin acquired the lease in 2015 for use by their heavy-lift New Glenn rocket. The company made extensive modifications to the complex during this time, including demolishing 36A and 36B to build one large pad in place, as well as integrating the neighboring Launch Complex 11 (LC-11) into the facility. Following this large-scale renovation, the new era of LC-36 commenced with the maiden flight of New Glenn in January 2025.

History

LC-36 was originally constructed by the US government in the early 1960s in order to launch the Atlas-Centaur rocket, with first launch in May 1962.

LC-36A was the scene of the biggest on-pad explosion in Cape history when Atlas-Centaur AC-5 fell back onto the pad on March 2, 1965. The accident spurred NASA to complete work on LC-36B which had been abandoned when it was 90% finished.

LC-36B was built near LC-36A "due to the Atlas-Centaur’s increasing flight rate – and low reliability early on."

The pad was modified by the operator of Atlas during the late 1980s to be able to launch the Atlas I, with first launch occurring in July 1990, and was subsequently modified two additional times during the 1990s to launch the Atlas II and Atlas III launch vehicles. Atlas III made its sixth and final launch from LC-36 in 2005.

There was a total of 68 and 77 launches from pads 36A and 36B, respectively, while the US government operated the launch complex in the first five decades of spaceflight.

Interregnum

The pad was unused from mid-2005 through 2015.

The legacy Atlas-Centaur umbilical towers of both pads were demolished in 2006. The mobile service towers were both demolished in controlled explosions on June 16, 2007. Tower B was demolished at 13:59 GMT (09:59 EDT) and tower A followed twelve minutes later at 14:11 (10:11 EDT).

In 2008, Aviation Week magazine reported that the U.S. Air Force committed to lease Launch Complex 36 to Space Florida for future use by the Athena III launch system, but that program never moved forward.

In March 2010, the USAF 45th Space Wing issued real property licenses to Space Florida for Space Launch Complexes 36 and 46 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Moon Express leased the pad in February 2015 from Space Florida as a development and test site for its commercial lunar operations and its lunar lander flight test vehicles.

In 2015, Blue Origin signed a long-term lease of launch site from Space Florida for launching Blue's orbital rockets, after Space Florida had previously leased the facility from the USAF in 2010 in order to facilitate commercial use of the land and facilities since the Air Force no longer required use of the launch complex. Moon Express and Blue Origin shared LC-36, delineated into LC-36A and LC-36B respectively, until Moon Express announced its relocation to Launch Complexes 17 and 18 in 2016, allowing Blue Origin full use of the LC-36 facility. In early 2016, Blue intended to begin orbital launches by 2020, as of 2019 they are expected to begin from LC-36 no earlier than 2024, although the launch finally occurred on 16 January 2025.

Blue Origin

On September 15, 2015, Blue Origin announced it would use Launch Complex 36 for launches of its orbital launch vehicle later in the decade. Blue had the lease in place for Launch Complex 36 by late 2015 from the Florida state space agency, Space Florida, and will manufacture their new BE-4-powered orbital launch vehicle at the nearby Exploration Park, also a part of the Space Florida land complex.

LC-13]] to the north, and Complexes 1 through 4 to the southeast.

By October 2015, the pad design and configuration was not yet publicly known. Blue broke ground for the facility to initiate construction activity on the site in June 2016.

By March 2016, the first launch of the Blue orbital launch vehicle New Glenn was estimated to be no earlier than 2020 and that target date had not changed by the time high-level specifications for the new launcher were unveiled in September 2016, nor by the time construction of the launch site was well underway in September 2018. New Glenn will be a very large 23 ft-diameter vehicle. The first stage will be powered by seven BE-4 methane/oxygen engines producing 3850000 lbf total thrust at launch. The first stage will be reusable and is designed to land vertically.

Blue has also leased the adjacent land—formerly known as LC-11—to use as a ground-based rocket engine test facility. Construction of the new launch complex and engine test facility was still underway in September 2018. In addition to LC-11, Blue also leased LC-12 to the north, which has been in use as a storage site for various hardware surrounding New Glenn.

Although Blue has been publicly quiet about the status of the launch complex construction, high-resolution aerial photography released after Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 showed that facility foundation work is in place—including for the horizontal integration facility, the launch service structure, lightning tower, and water tower—and above-ground steel construction has commenced. In September 2019, the propellant tank farm was in the process of being installed.

Launch statistics

LC-36

No.DateTime (UTC)Launch vehicleBoosterPayloadResultRemarks146147
16 January 202507:03New Glenn 7×27E01Blue Ring PathfinderMaiden flight of New Glenn and first orbital launch for Blue Origin. First launch from LC-36 following complex rebuilding. Carried a prototype Blue Ring spacecraft. Originally supposed to fly the two ESCAPADE probes, but payloads switched following development issues with rocket. Booster landing failed during entry burn.
13 November 202520:55New Glenn 7×27E02-1ESCAPADEPart of the SIMPLEx program, two orbiters designed to study the magnetosphere and atmosphere of Mars. First New Glenn launch into heliocentric orbit, and first successful booster landing by a non-SpaceX launch vehicle.

Upcoming launches

DateLaunch vehiclePayload
February 2026New Glenn 7×2BlueBird Block 2 FM2

LC-36A

Atlas-Centaur

All flights operated by NASA.

No. (36)No. (36A)DateTime (UTC)Launch vehicleConfigurationPayloadResultRemarks12345869712815916101811201222132314251527163117341835193820402142224423462448255026522753285529573059316132
8 May 196219:49Atlas-CentaurAtlas LV-3C /Centaur-ASuborbital testMaiden flight of the Centaur upper stage and first launch from LC-36. Insulation panel for the Centaur detached prematurely, leading to vehicle breakup 54 seconds after launch.
27 November 196319:03Atlas-CentaurAtlas LV-3C /Centaur-BOrbital testFirst successful launch and orbital launch from LC-36. First use of a cryogenic engine in space.
30 June 196414:04Atlas-CentaurAtlas LV-3C /Centaur-COrbital testHydraulics pump failure led to premature shutdown of RL10s on Centaur and failure to reach orbit.
11 December 196414:25Atlas-CentaurAtlas LV-3C /Centaur-CSurveyor mass simulatorFlaw in Centaur ullage motor prevented engine restart from parking orbit.
2 March 196513:25Atlas-CentaurAtlas LV-3C /Centaur-CSurveyor SD-1Mass simulator for a Surveyor lunar lander. Booster valves accidentally closed 2 seconds after launch, leading to premature engine cutoff and rocket falling back onto pad. Damage to pad forced resumption of construction and activation of LC-39B.
30 May 196614:41Atlas-CentaurAtlas LV-3C /Centaur-DSurveyor 1Part of the Surveyor program, aiming to land on the Moon in anticipation for future crewed landings. First Atlas Centaur flight with a live payload and first launch from LC-36A since the pad explosion. First American spacecraft to land on the Moon.
20 September 196612:32Atlas-CentaurAtlas LV-3C /Centaur-DSurveyor 2Part of the Surveyor program, aiming to land on the Moon in anticipation for future crewed landings. Launch was a success, but payload failed en route to destination.
14 July 196711:53Atlas-CentaurAtlas LV-3C /Centaur-DSurveyor 4Part of the Surveyor program, aiming to land on the Moon in anticipation for future crewed landings. Launch was a success, but payload crashed on the lunar surface. Final Atlas LV launch from LC-36.
7 January 196806:30Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DSurveyor 7Part of the Surveyor program, aiming to land on the Moon in anticipation for future crewed landings. Final flight of the Surveyor program.
10 August 196822:33Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DATS-4Part of the Applications Technology Satellites, designed to go to geosynchronous orbit. Oxidizer leak caused failure of engine restart, stranding payload in parking orbit.
25 February 196901:29Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DMariner 6Part of the Mariner program, aiming at exploring Mars. First launch from LC-36 placing payload in a heliocentric orbit.
12 August 196911:01Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DATS-5Part of the Applications Technology Satellites, designed to go to geosynchronous orbit.
26 January 197100:36Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DIntelsat IV F2First commercial launch from LC-36.
9 May 197101:11Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DMariner 8Part of the Mariner program, aiming at exploring Mars. Damaged circuitry in Centaur led to loss of control and premature engine shutdown 365 seconds after launch.
20 December 197101:10Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DIntelsat IV F3
3 March 197201:49Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DPioneer 10Part of the Pioneer program, aimed at exploring Jupiter. First spacecraft to reach the outer solar system, first spacecraft to visit Jupiter, and first spacecraft to reach escape velocity of the Sun.
23 August 197322:57Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1AIntelsat IV F7
20 February 197523:35Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1AIntelsat IV F6Improper separation of lanyard during staging led to programming reset, causing an erroneous flight path and engaging range safety protocols 413 seconds after launch.
22 May 197522:04Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1AIntelsat IV F1
13 May 197622:28Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARComstar D1
26 May 197721:47Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat IVA F4
30 September 197701:02Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat IVA F5Gas generator leak led to fire in thrust section during ascent, leading to RSO protocols 55 seconds after launch.
9 February 197821:17Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARFLTSATCOM-1Part of the Fleet Satellite Communications System for the United States Navy. First military launch from an Atlas-Centaur and first military launch from LC-36.
20 May 197813:13Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARPioneer Venus OrbiterPart of the Pioneer program, aimed at exploring Venus. First American spacecraft to enter Venus's orbit.
8 August 197807:33Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARPioneer Venus MultiprobePart of the Pioneer program, aimed at exploring Venus. First American spacecraft to enter Venus's atmosphere. Final mission of the Pioneer program.
4 May 197918:57Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARFLTSATCOM-2Part of the Fleet Satellite Communications System for the United States Navy.
18 January 198001:26Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARFLTSATCOM-3Part of the Fleet Satellite Communications System for the United States Navy.
31 October 198003:54Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARFLTSATCOM-4Part of the Fleet Satellite Communications System for the United States Navy.
21 February 198123:23Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARComstar D4
6 August 198101:16Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARFLTSATCOM-5Part of the Fleet Satellite Communications System for the United States Navy. Fairing collapsed during ascent, damaging the spacecraft.
5 March 198200:23Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat V -504
19 May 198322:26Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat V -506Final flight of the Atlas SLV.

Atlas II

All flights before 1994 operated by General Dynamics, from 1994 to January 1995 by Martin Marietta, and since April 1995 by Lockheed Martin.

No. (36)No. (36A)DateTime (UTC)Launch vehicleConfigurationPayloadResultRemarks7233753478358036843786388839904092419342954397449945101461034710648109491115011351115521165311854119551205612157123581255912760129611306213263135641366513766140671426814469
11 February 199200:41Atlas IIAtlas IIUSA-78 (DSCS IIIB-14)First launch of the Atlas II from LC-36A.
2 July 199221:54Atlas IIAtlas IIUSA-82 (DSCS IIIB-12)
19 July 199322:04Atlas IIAtlas IIUSA-93 (DSCS IIIB-9)
28 November 199323:40Atlas IIAtlas IIUSA-97 (DSCS IIIB-10)
3 August 199423:57Atlas IIAtlas IIADBS-2First Atlas IIA launch from LC-36A.
29 November 199410:21Atlas IIAtlas IIAOrion 1
29 January 199501:25Atlas IIAtlas IIUSA-104 (UHF F4)
7 April 199523:47Atlas IIAtlas IIAAMSC-1
31 May 199515:27Atlas IIAtlas IIUSA-111 (UHF F5)
31 July 199523:30Atlas IIAtlas IIAUSA-113 (DSCS IIIB-7)
22 October 199508:00Atlas IIAtlas IIUSA-114 (UHF F4)
15 December 199500:23Atlas IIAtlas IIAGalaxy 3R
3 April 199623:01Atlas IIAtlas IIAInmarsat 3-F1
25 July 199612:42Atlas IIAtlas IIUSA-127 (UHF F7)
21 November 199620:47Atlas IIAtlas IIAHot Bird 2
8 March 199706:01Atlas IIAtlas IIATempo 2
4 September 199712:03Atlas IIAtlas IIASAMC-3First Atlas IIAS launch from LC-36A.
25 October 199700:46Atlas IIAtlas IIAUSA-135 (DSCS IIIB-13)
29 January 199818:37Atlas IIAtlas IIANROL-5NRO launch. SDS satellite, also known as USA-137. First launch from LC-36 acknowledged by the National Reconnaissance Office.
16 March 199821:32Atlas IIAtlas IIUSA-138 (UHF F8)Final flight of the baseline Atlas II.
18 June 199822:48Atlas IIAtlas IIASIntelsat 805
20 October 199807:19Atlas IIAtlas IIAUSA-140 (UHF F9
16 February 199901:45Atlas IIAtlas IIASJCSAT-6
12 April 199922:50Atlas IIAtlas IIASEutelsat W3
23 September 199906:02Atlas IIAtlas IIASEchostar 5
21 January 200001:03Atlas IIAtlas IIAUSA-148 (DSCS IIIB-8)
3 May 200007:07Atlas IIAtlas IIAGOES-11Launched as GOES-L. Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites.
30 June 200012:56Atlas IIAtlas IIATDRS-8Launched as TDRS-H. Part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. First TDRS launch from LC-36, and first unmanned TDRS launch.
20 October 200000:40Atlas IIAtlas IIAUSA-153 (DSCS IIIB-11)
6 December 200002:47Atlas IIAtlas IIASNROL-10NRO launch. SDS satellite, also known as USA-155.
23 July 200107:23Atlas IIAtlas IIAGOES-12Launched as GOES-M. Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites.
8 March 200222:59Atlas IIAtlas IIATDRS-9Launched as TDRS-I. Part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.
18 September 200222:04Atlas IIAtlas IIASHispasat 1D
5 December 200202:42Atlas IIAtlas IIATDRS-10Launched as TDRS-J. Part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. Final flight of the Atlas IIA.
5 February 200423:46Atlas IIAtlas IIASAMC-10
16 April 200400:45Atlas IIAtlas IIASSuperbird 6Launch was a success, but gravitational perturbations by the Moon caused a lower than expected perigee and permanent damage to satellite.
31 August 200423:17Atlas IIAtlas IIASNROL-1NRO launch. SDS satellite, also known as USA-179. Final flight of the Atlas II, and final flight from LC-36A prior to demolition and Blue Origin's pad consolidation.

LC-36B

Atlas-Centaur and Atlas G

All flights operated by NASA.

No. (36)No. (36B)DateTime (UTC)Launch vehicleConfigurationPayloadResultRemarks6172103114135146177198219241026112812291330143215331636173718391941204321452247234924512554265627582860296230633164326533663467356836
11 August 196514:31Atlas-CentaurAtlas LV-3C /Centaur-DSurveyor SD-2Mass simulator for a Surveyor lunar lander. First launch from LC-39B. First fully successful flight of a Surveyor mass simulator.
8 April 196601:00Atlas-CentaurAtlas LV-3C /Centaur-DSurveyor SD-3Mass simulator for a Surveyor lunar lander. Centaur prematurely depleted ullage propellant, preventing engine restart.
26 October 196611:12Atlas-CentaurAtlas LV-3C /Centaur-DSurveyor SD-4Mass simulator for a Surveyor lunar lander. First ever restart of a cryogenic engine in orbit.
17 April 196707:05Atlas-CentaurAtlas LV-3C /Centaur-DSurveyor 3Part of the Surveyor program, aiming to land on the Moon in anticipation for future crewed landings. First launch of a live payload from LC-36B. First and only to date spacecraft to visited by astronauts on another celestial object, being visited by Apollo 12 in 1969 to demonstrate the feasibility of making a moonbase.
8 September 196707:57Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DSurveyor 5Part of the Surveyor program, aiming to land on the Moon in anticipation for future crewed landings. First Atlas SLV launch from LC-36.
7 November 196707:39Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DSurveyor 6Part of the Surveyor program, aiming to land on the Moon in anticipation for future crewed landings.
7 December 196808:40Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DOAO-2Part of the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory series of space telescopes. First ever successful launch of a space telescope.
27 March 196922:22Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DMariner 7Part of the Mariner program, aiming at exploring Mars.
30 November 197022:40Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DOAO-BPart of the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory series of space telescopes. Payload fairings failed to separate, causing failure to reach orbit.
30 May 197122:23Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DMariner 9Part of the Mariner program, aiming at exploring Mars. Became the first ever satellite to enter orbit of another planet.
23 January 197200:12Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DIntelsat IV F4
13 June 197221:53Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DIntelsat IV F5
21 August 197210:28Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3C / Centaur-DOAO-3Part of the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory series of space telescopes.
6 April 197302:11Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1APioneer 11Part of the Pioneer program, aimed at exploring Jupiter and Saturn. First spacecraft to visit Saturn, and second spacecraft to reach solar escape velocity.
3 November 197305:45Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1AMariner 10Part of the Mariner program, aiming at exploring Venus and Mercury. First spacecraft to visit Mercury and first spacecraft to take pictures of Venus from space. Final mission of the Mariner program.
21 November 197423:43Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1AIntelsat IV F8
26 September 197500:17Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat IVA F1
29 January 197623:56Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat IVA F2
22 July 197622:04Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARComstar D2
12 August 197721:47Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARHEAO-1Part of the HEAO Program, space telescopes designed to observe x-ray astronomy.
7 January 197800:15Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat IVA F3
31 March 197823:36Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat IVA F6
29 June 197822:24Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARComstar D3
13 November 197805:24Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1AREinstein ObservatoryPart of the HEAO Program, space telescopes designed to observe x-ray astronomy.
20 September 197905:28Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARHEAO-3Part of the HEAO Program, space telescopes designed to observe x-ray astronomy.
6 December 198023:31Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat V F-2
23 May 198122:42Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat V F-1
15 December 198123:35Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat V F-3
28 September 198223:17Atlas-CentaurAtlas SLV-3D / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat V -505Final Atlas SLV launch from LC-36B.
9 June 198423:03Atlas GAtlas G / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat V -509Maiden flight of the Atlas G. Centaur LOX tank ruptured during coasting phase, leading to loss of rocket.
22 March 198523:55Atlas GAtlas G / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat V -510
30 June 198500:44Atlas GAtlas G / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat V -511
28 September 198523:17Atlas GAtlas G / Centaur-D1ARIntelsat V -512
5 December 198602:30Atlas GAtlas G / Centaur-D1ARUSA-20 (FLTSATCOM-7)Part of the Fleet Satellite Communications System for the United States Navy.
26 March 198721:22Atlas GAtlas G / Centaur-D1ARFLTSATCOM-6Part of the Fleet Satellite Communications System for the United States Navy. Launched during a thunderstorm and was struck by lightning, damaging guidance and causing an erroneous pitch maneuver that led to vehicle breakup.
25 September 198908:56Atlas GAtlas G / Centaur-D1ARUSA-46 (FLTSATCOM-8)Part of the Fleet Satellite Communications System for the United States Navy. Final flight of the Atlas G.

Atlas I, II, and III

All flights before 1994 operated by General Dynamics, from 1994 to January 1995 by Martin Marietta, and since March 1995 by Lockheed Martin.

No. (36)No. (36B)DateTime (UTC)Launch vehicleConfigurationPayloadResultRemarks69377038713973407441764277437944814582468347854887498950915194529653985410055102561045710558107591086011061112621146311764122651246612667128681316913370134711387213973141741437514576
25 July 199019:21Atlas IAtlas ICRRESJoint NASA-DoD satellite aimed at studying Earth's magnetosphere. Maiden flight of the Atlas I.
18 April 199123:30Atlas IAtlas IBS-3HFrozen nitrogen formed a plug that caused failure of one RL10 during staging, activating RSO protocols 441 seconds after launch.
7 December 199122:47Atlas IIAtlas IIEutelsat 2F3Maiden flight of the Atlas II.
14 March 199200:00Atlas IAtlas IGalaxy 5
10 June 199200:00Atlas IIAtlas IIAIntelsat KMaiden flight of the Atlas IIA.
22 August 199222:40Atlas IAtlas IGalaxy 1RFrozen nitrogen formed a plug that caused failure of one RL10 during staging, activating RSO protocols 470 seconds after launch.
25 March 199321:38Atlas IAtlas IUHF F1Improper torque led to loss of thrust in sustainer engine, eventually causing payload to be placed in an unusable orbit.
3 September 199311:17Atlas IAtlas IUSA-95 (UHF F2)
16 December 199300:38Atlas IIAtlas IIASTelstar 401Maiden flight of the Atlas IIAS.
13 April 199406:04Atlas IAtlas IGOES-8Launched as GOES-I. Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. First GOES launch on an Atlas rocket. First Atlas flight following Martin Marietta's purchase of General Dynamics' space division.
24 June 199413:50Atlas IAtlas IUSA-104 (UHF F3)
6 October 199406:35Atlas IIAtlas IIASIntelsat 703
10 January 199506:18Atlas IIAtlas IIASIntelsat 704First Atlas launch procured by International Launch Services.
22 March 199506:18Atlas IIAtlas IIASIntelsat 705First Altas launch following Lockheed and Martin Marietta's merging into Lockheed Martin.
23 May 199505:52Atlas IAtlas IGOES-9Launched as GOES-J. Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites.
29 August 199500:53Atlas IIAtlas IIASJCSAT-3
2 December 199508:08Atlas IIAtlas IIASSOHOPart of the Horizon 2000 program, aimed at observing the Sun from the L1 Lagrange point. First launch for ESA from LC-36.
1 February 199601:15Atlas IIAtlas IIASPalapa C1
30 April 199604:31Atlas IAtlas IBeppoSAXSpace telescope aimed at detecting x-ray sources, helping detect gamma-ray burst sources. Partnership between the ASI and NIVR.
8 September 199621:49Atlas IIAtlas IIAGE-1
18 December 199601:57Atlas IIAtlas IIAInmarsat 3-F3
17 February 199701:42Atlas IIAtlas IIASJCSAT-4
25 April 199705:49Atlas IAtlas IGOES-10Launched as GOES-K. Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. Last flight of the Atlas I.
28 July 199701:15Atlas IIAtlas IIASSuperbird-C
5 October 199721:01Atlas IIAtlas IIASEchostar 3
8 December 199723:52Atlas IIAtlas IIASGalaxy 8i
28 February 199800:21Atlas IIAtlas IIASIntelsat 806
9 October 199822:50Atlas IIAtlas IIAHot Bird 5
23 November 199904:06Atlas IIAtlas IIAUSA-146 (UHF F10)
3 February 200023:30Atlas IIAtlas IIASHispasat 1C
23 May 200023:10Atlas IIIAtlas IIIAEutelsat W4Maiden flight of the Atlas III, and first orbital Atlas flight without the stage and a half design of the core stage.
14 July 200005:21Atlas IIAtlas IIASEchostar 6
19 June 200104:41Atlas IIAtlas IIASICO F2
11 October 200102:32Atlas IIAtlas IIASNROL-12NRO launch. SDS satellite, also known as USA-162.
21 February 200212:43Atlas IIIAtlas IIIBEchostar 7Maiden flight of the Atlas IIIB.
12 April 200300:47Atlas IIIAtlas IIIBAsiasat 4
18 December 200302:30Atlas IIIAtlas IIIBUFO 11
13 March 200405:40Atlas IIIAtlas IIIAMBSAT-1Final launch of the Atlas IIIA.
19 May 200422:22Atlas IIAtlas IIASAMC-11Final Atlas II launch from LC-36B.
3 February 200507:41Atlas IIIAtlas IIIBNROL-23NRO launch. Two Intruder satellites, sharing the designation USA-181. Final flight of the Atlas III, and final Atlas launch from LC-36. Final flight from LC-36 and 36A prior to demolition and Blue Origin's pad consolidation.

References

References

  1. McDowell, Jonathan. (February 22, 1998). "Issue 350". Jonathan's Space Page.
  2. "Table 3 — Launch Capability in Florida". Air War College Gateway to the Internet.
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