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United Launch Alliance · Retired · us · Launch Vehicle

Atlas V

Workhorse EELV retired from NSSL service 2024; final commercial mission late 2025.

Verified 2026-06-17 · First flight 2002-08-21

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Systems cutaway

Systems
Atlas V — systems cutaway schematicPropulsion
1× RD-180 (Russian, RP-1/LOX) on first stage; up to 5× AJ-60A solid strap-ons (Aerojet); 1 or 2× RL-10 LOX/LH2 engines on Centaur upper stage.
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Structures
3.81 m core diameter; 4 m or 5 m fairing; 58.3 m height.
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Atlas V58.3 m
Propulsion

1× RD-180 (Russian, RP-1/LOX) on first stage; up to 5× AJ-60A solid strap-ons (Aerojet); 1 or 2× RL-10 LOX/LH2 engines on Centaur upper stage.

Structures

3.81 m core diameter; 4 m or 5 m fairing; 58.3 m height.

Specs & Metrics

Payload to LEO ↑ better
12,500 kg
varies by variant; 401 config ~9,797 kg, 551 config ~18,850 kg
Maximum payload mass deliverable to low Earth orbit (~200–400 km circular), in the vehicle's stated reference configuration.
Payload to GTO ↑ better
6,480 kg
Maximum payload mass deliverable to geostationary transfer orbit (~185 × 35,786 km), in the stated reference config.
Liftoff Mass ↓ better
461 t
Total vehicle mass at liftoff including propellant, payload, and all stages, in metric tonnes.
Vehicle Height ↓ better
58.3 m
Full stack height at liftoff, in metres, including fairing or spacecraft.
Mission Success Rate ↑ better
99.5%
104 successes, 1 partial failure, 0 full failures
Percentage of launch attempts rated as full mission successes over the vehicle's complete flight history.

Subsystems

propulsion

1× RD-180 (Russian, RP-1/LOX) on first stage; up to 5× AJ-60A solid strap-ons (Aerojet); 1 or 2× RL-10 LOX/LH2 engines on Centaur upper stage.

structures

3.81 m core diameter; 4 m or 5 m fairing; 58.3 m height.