USAF Atlas-Able P-3
Atlas-Able
Status
Failure
Date
26 NOV 1959
07:26
Launch Provider
United States Air Force
Launch Pad
Space Launch Complex 14
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Mission Overview
The Pioneer P-1, -3, -30 and -31 series was intended to be a lunar orbiter probe, but the mission failed shortly after launch. The objectives were to place a highly instrumented probe in lunar orbit, to investigate the environment between the Earth and Moon, and to develop technology for controlling and maneuvering spacecraft from Earth.
Rocket
Atlas-Able
Mission Type
Lunar Exploration
Orbit
Lunar Orbit
Stages
3
Livestream
Not availableRocket Details
The Atlas-Able 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 several Pioneer spacecraft towards the Moon. Of the five Atlas-Able rockets built, two failed during static firings, and the other three failed to reach orbit.
Height
35 m
Diameter
3.05 m
Launch Mass
120 T
Thrust
1,587 kN