Atlas H
The Atlas H 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 five clusters of NOSS satellites for the US National Reconnaissance Office. Two flights also carried LiPS satellites, as secondary payloads for the United States Naval Research Laboratory.
Atlas H
San Diego Air Space Museum Archives · 08_002157 SDASM Space Image · Public domain
- Name
- Atlas H
- Field
- SM-65 Atlas
- Region
- United States
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wikidata · Q862613 · wikipedia · Atlas H
In this article
Overview
Overview
The Atlas H was a stage and a half rocket, using the enhanced Atlas rocket designed for use as the first stage of the Atlas G rocket, which differed from the Atlas H in having a Centaur upper stage. This stage was later reused as the first stage of the Atlas I. In practice, an MSD upper stage was flown on all five launches. H could put a payload of 3,630 kg (8,000 lb) into low Earth orbit, or a payload of 2,255 kg (4,971 lb) into a geostationary transfer orbit.
88226331:Piction ID--Atlas Launch--
San Diego Air Space Museum Archives · 08_002158 SDASM Space Image
88226335:Piction ID--First Atlas H, 9 Feb 1982----Please tag these photos so information can be recorded.---
San Diego Air Space Museum Archives · 08_002159 SDASM Space Image
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Atlas H • Manufacturer — Convair/General Dynamics • Function — Expendable launch system • Country Origin — United States • Status — Retired • Sites — SLC-3E, Vandenberg • Success — 5 • Launches — 5 • First — 9 February 1983 • Last — 15 May 1987
Launches
Launches
The Atlas H was launched five times from Vandenberg SLC3E: • Date — Mission — Mass (kg) — Apogee (km) — Perigee (km) — Inclination º • 1983 February 9 — NOSS 4 - PARCAE 5 / OPS 0252 — 700 — 1,186 — 1,063 — 63.40 • SSB - SSU — 700 — 1,489 — 733 — 63.40 • SSD (NOSS 4) - NOSS-Subsat 4-4 — 1,419 — 796 — 63.40 • SSC - SSU — 1,173 — 1,043 — 63.50 • SSA - SSU — 1,166 — 1,051 — 63.40 • SSA (NOSS 4) - NOSS-Subsat 4-1 / OPS 0252 DEB — 1,164 — 1,051 — 63.50 • LIPS 2 — 1,399 — 822 — 63.30 • 1983 June 9 — NOSS 5 - PARCAE 6 / OPS 6432 — 700 — 1,167 — 1,049 — 63.40 • GB1 - SSU — 1,167 — 1,049 — 63.40 • GB3 - SSU — 1,166 — 1,049 — 63.40 • GB2 - SSU — 1,167 — 1,049 — 63.40 • 1984 February 5 — NOSS 6 - PARCAE 7 / OPS 8737 — 700 — 1,172 — 1,052 — 63.40 • JD1 - SSU — 1,172 — 1,052 — 63.40 • JD2 - SSU — 1,172 — 1,052 — 63.40 • JD3 - SSU — 1,172 — 1,052 — 63.40 • 1986 February 9 — USA 15 - PARCAE 8 — 700 — 1,166 — 1,049 — 63.00 • USA 18 - SSU — 1,407 — 817 — 63.41 • USA 16 - SSU — 1,161 — 1,055 — 63.00 • USA 17 - SSU — 1,165 — 1,055 — 63.00 • 1987 May 15 — USA 22 - PARCAE 9 — 700 — 1,179 — 1,045 — 62.90 • LIPS 3 — 1,316 — 899 — 63.40 • USA 25 - SSU — 1,178 — 1,035 — 62.60 • USA 24 - SSU — 1,184 — 1,046 — 63.20 • USA 23 - SSU — 1,170 — 1,039 — 63.40
Identity
Identity
What the record establishes about Atlas H. Atlas H is associated with United States. Classified as a SM-65 Atlas.
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- United States
Named but not plotted · 1
Atlas H is associated with United States.
Country
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q862613: Atlas H
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Atlas H”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Literature
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The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Atlas H, revision 1351068169 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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Broader subject
1- SM-65 AtlasTerminology
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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