Atlas V

United Launch Alliance

ULA's reliable workhorse — flying since 2002 with a near-perfect record.

Atlas V uses a Russian RD-180 engine on its first stage and a Centaur upper stage. It has launched a wide range of payloads including Mars rovers (Curiosity, Perseverance), the New Horizons probe to Pluto, and Boeing's Starliner crewed capsule. Production is being phased out in favor of Vulcan Centaur.

Fun facts

Atlas V launched the Mars Curiosity and Perseverance rovers — two of the most groundbreaking exploration robots ever built.

The first-stage RD-180 engine was sourced from Russia, creating political tensions during the embargo period.

It launched the New Horizons probe, which performed a Pluto flyby in 2015 after a 9-year journey.

Height

58.3 m

Diameter

3.81 m

Mass

590 t

Stages

Thrust