ATLAS IIA-CENTAUR FACT SHEET

By Cliff Lethbridge

Atlas IIA-Centaur Launch, Photo Courtesy U.S. Air Force

Classification: Space Launch Vehicle

Length: 149 feet, 7 inches (with medium fairing)

Length: 155 feet, 10 inches (with large fairing)

Diameter: 10 feet

Date of First Cape Canaveral Launch: June 10, 1992

Date of Final Cape Canaveral Launch: December 4, 2002

Number of Cape Canaveral Launches: 24

Identical to the Atlas II-Centaur in all other respects, the Atlas IIA-Centaur featured an upgraded Centaur second stage designed to increase payload capacity. With the medium fairing, the Atlas IIA-Centaur could carry a 15,700-pound payload to low-Earth orbit, a 6,400-pound payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit or a 4,620-pound payload to Earth-escape trajectory. With the large fairing, the Atlas IIA-Centaur could carry a 15,250-pound payload to low-Earth orbit, a 6,200-pound payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit or a 4,370-pound payload to Earth-escape trajectory.