Atlas V 551 (United Launch Alliance)
The Atlas V 551, manufactured by United Launch Alliance established in 2006, undertook its inaugural launch on 01/19/2006, is non-reusable and is active.
Atlas V 551 has 14 successful launches and 0 failed attempts, with a cumulative tally of 14 launches, currently with 9 pending launches in the pipeline.
Atlas V is an expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. It was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin and is now operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture with Boeing. Each Atlas V rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage. The RD-180 engines are provided by RD Amross, while Aerojet Rocketdyne provides both the RL10 engines and the strap-on boosters used in some configurations. The standard payload fairing sizes are 4 or 5 meters in diameter and of various lengths. Fairings sizes as large as 7.2 m in diameter and up to 32.3 m in length have been considered. The rocket is assembled in Decatur, Alabama and Harlingen, Texas.
- Length: 59.7 m
- Diameter: 3.8 m
- Launch Mass: 573 T
- LEO Capacity: 18850 kg
- GTO Capacity: 8890 kg
- GEO Capacity: 3850 kg
- Launch Cost: $153,000,000
Manufacturer
United Launch Alliance (ULA)
CEO: Tory Bruno
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.
