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TheAtlas E/F (orSB-1A) was an Americanexpendable launch system andsounding rocket built using parts of decommissionedSM-65 Atlas missiles. It was a member of theAtlas family of rockets.

The first stage was built using parts taken from decommissionedAtlas-E andAtlas-F missiles, with varioussolid propellantupper stages used depending on the requirements of the payload.^[1] The Atlas E/F was also used without an upper stage for a series ofre-entry vehicle tests. On a single launch, anRM-81 Agena liquid-propellant upper stage was used.^[2]

Thirty Atlas E/F rockets were launched without upper stages for ABRES and BMRS re-entry vehicle tests between 1965 and 1974.^[3][4] Three of these launches failed. Five ABRES launches were also conducted while the missiles were still operational, but did not use the Atlas E/F configuration.^{[citation needed]}

AnRM-81 Agena upper stage was used on a former Atlas-F, to launch theSeasat satellite on 27 June 1978.^[2][5] This was the final flight of theAtlas-Agena. Previous Atlas-Agena launches were launched onAtlas D orAtlas SLV-3 first stages, but the final Atlas-Agena used an Atlas E/F.^{[citation needed]}

An Atlas E/F with anAltair-3A upper stage was used to launch threeStacksat spacecraft on 11 April 1990.^[6] The rocket was capable of placing 210 kg (460 lb) of payload intolow Earth orbit.^{[citation needed]}

ABurner-2 upper stage was used on an Atlas E/F to launch theRadsat andRadcat satellites on 2 October 1972.^[7] The rocket had a payload capacity of 950 kg (2,090 lb) to low Earth orbit.^{[citation needed]}

Atlas E/F rockets with a MSD (Multiple Satellite Dispenser) upper stage (FW-4D)^[8] were used for four launches, withParcae (NOSS) naval reconnaissance satellites between 1976 and 1980.^[9] The fourth of these launches failed when one of the booster unit engines shut down early.^[8] This configuration had a maximum payload capacity of 800 kg (1,800 lb) to LEO.^{[citation needed]}

The OIS upper stage (Star-27)^[10] was used for two Atlas E/F launches in 1979 and 1985, with theSolwind andGeosat spacecraft respectively.^[11] The rocket could place 870 kilograms (1,920 lb) into low Earth orbit.^{[citation needed]}

The Atlas E/F was used between 1968 and 1971 to launch four groups ofOV1 satellites, using OV1 upper stages powered by a FW-4S (Altair-3) solid rocket motors.^[12] Each payload had its own upper stage. Three of the launches carried two OV1 satellites, and one carried three.^[12] Two of the launches also carried secondary payloads. In this configuration, the rocket could place 363 kg (800 lb) into LEO.

The PTS upper stage (Star-37E)^[13] was used to launch the NTS-1 satellite on 14 July 1974.^[14] The upper stage gave the vehicle a payload capacity of 295 kg (650 lb) to amedium Earthtransfer orbit.^{[citation needed]}

The SGS upper stage, which consisted of twoStar series solid rocket motors, was used on twelve Atlas E/F launches, with earlyGPS satellites. The first eight used the SGS-1 (Star-37E), which could place 455 kg (1,003 lb) of payload into a medium Earth transfer orbit, whereas the last four used the more powerful SGS-2 (Star-48B).^[15][16] The eighth launch failed.^[15]

AStar-17A was used in the launch of theRM-20 spacecraft on 12 April 1975,^[17] giving the rocket a LEO payload of 725 kg (1,598 lb). The RM-20 launch failed due to damage to the first stage, caused by the explosion of residual fuel in the flame trench during launch. Another launch failed due to stage separation occurring at the correct time despite the first stage burn being extended by fifty seconds to resolve an underperformance issue, the result of which was the upper stage separating and igniting while the first stage was still firing.^{[citation needed]}

TheStar-37S-ISS was used to launch nineteenDefense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP),National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) andTelevision Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS)weather satellites between 1978 and 1995.^[18] With theStar-37 upper stage, the rocket could place 1,100 kg (2,400 lb) into aSun-synchronous orbit (SSO).

The Atlas E/F was used with aTrident upper stage, between 1967 and 1971, forsuborbital tests ofre-entry vehicles. Nineteen were launched, of which two failed.^[19]

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