USAF Atlas-Able P-31
Atlas-Able
Status
Failure
Date
15 DEC 1960
09:10
Mission Overview
An intended lunar orbiter the vehicle was destroyed when the launch vehicle exploded due to a malfunction in the first stage.
Rocket
Atlas-Able
Mission Type
Planetary Science
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