SM-65B Atlas

Atlas B (SM-65B)

Atlas B before the launch of SCORE (USAF)
Function	Prototype ICBM Expendable launch system
Manufacturer	Convair
Country of origin	United States
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	LC-11, LC-13 & LC-14, CCAFS
Total launches	10
Successes	6
Failures	4
Maiden flight	19 July 1958
Last flight	4 February 1959

The SM-65B Atlas, or Atlas B, also designated X-12^[1] was a prototype of the Atlas missile. First flown on 19 July 1958, the Atlas B was the first version of the Atlas rocket to use the stage and a half design.

Ten flights were made. Nine of these were sub-orbital test flights of the Atlas as an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, with five successful missions and four failures. The seventh flight, launched on 18 December 1958, was used to place the SCORE satellite into low Earth orbit, the first orbital launch conducted by an Atlas rocket.

All Atlas-B launches were conducted from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, at Launch Complexes 11, 13 and 14.^[1]

Launch history

Date	Time (GMT)	Pad	Serial	Apogee	Outcome	Remarks
1958-07-19	17:36	LC-11	3B	10 kilometres (6.2 mi)	Failure
1958-08-02	22:16	LC-13	4B	900 kilometres (560 mi)	Success
1958-08-29	04:30	LC-11	5B	900 kilometres (560 mi)	Success
1958-09-14	05:24	LC-14	8B	900 kilometres (560 mi)	Success
1958-09-18	21:27	LC-13	6B	100 kilometres (62 mi)	Failure
1958-11-18	04:00	LC-11	9B	800 kilometres (500 mi)	Failure
1958-11-29	02:27	LC-14	12B	900 kilometres (560 mi)	Success	First full-range test flight
1958-12-18	22:02	LC-11	10B	N/A	Success	Placed SCORE satellite into 185km x 1,484km x 32.3° orbit
1959-01-16	04:00	LC-14	13B	100 kilometres (62 mi)	Failure
1959-02-04	08:01	LC-11	11B	900 kilometres (560 mi)	Success

See also

• SM-65 Atlas

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Encyclopedia Astronautica - Atlas B