Capabilities of the Atlas V Family of Launch Vehicles for Interplanetary Launches
- Paper number
IAC-06-D2.2.04
- Author
Mr. David Miller, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Brian Lathrop, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
The various performance capabilities, expected flight environments, and mission unique modifications that the Atlas V fleet of launch vehicles can accommodate to service the interplanetary customer are discussed in this paper. The launches of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft in August 2005 and the Pluto New Horizons spacecraft in January 2006 were the first launches of an interplanetary spacecraft on an Atlas launch vehicle since the launches of the two Pioneer Venus spacecraft in 1978. The launches of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Pluto New Horizons spanned the entire fleet of Atlas V launch vehicles, from the smallest (Atlas V 401) to the largest (Atlas V 551) configurations. The payload mass that can be delivered to representative C3’s for various Atlas V configurations is presented. Performance capabilities of several Atlas V vehicle configurations across a finite launch window are discussed as well as techniques used to maximize the duration of the launch window on any one particular day, while maintaining positive propellant margins. The nominal thermal, acoustic, and vibration environments that the payload is expected to see for various vehicle configurations are presented. Various capabilities of the Atlas program to make payload specific modifications, such as payload access doors, are presented. Finally, the unique payload integration processes and analyses associated with an RTG equipped payload are summarized.
- Abstract document