Atlas-Able

General Dynamics

An early Atlas-derived launcher used in ill-fated attempts to send Pioneer probes toward the Moon — all three flights failed.

The Atlas-Able was a three-and-a-half-stage expendable launch system derived from the SM-65 Atlas missile. It consisted of a stage-and-a-half Atlas first stage, an Able second stage, and an Altair third stage. Used to launch several Pioneer spacecraft (Pioneer P-1, P-3, P-30, P-31) toward the Moon, all attempts ended in failure — the first exploded on the pad during a static fire, and the others failed in flight.

Fun facts

All three launches failed — among the most unsuccessful rocket programs in early spaceflight.

Height

35 m

Diameter

3.05 m

Mass

—

Stages

Thrust

1,880 kN

Payload LEO