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| The first successful flight of a fully instrumented Atlas missile to its maximum range occurred on November 28, 1958. |
(Reference from Atlas (rocket family))
1958-11-28 USA Atlas ICBM Flight
Atlas is a series of U.S. missiles and space launch vehicles that originated with the SM-65 Atlas. The Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program began in the late 1950s under the Convair Division of General Dynamics. Although Atlas became operational in October 1959, it quickly became outdated as an ICBM due to advancements in missile technology, leading to its retirement from this role by 1965.
Atlas required extensive preparation times, making it unsuitable for quick-launch ICBM operations. However, this was not a concern for planned space launches, allowing Atlas-derived launch vehicles to have a long history as space launchers. Even before its ICBM service concluded in 1965, Atlas successfully launched four Project Mercury astronauts into orbit and laid the groundwork for a family of effective space launch vehicles, including the Atlas Agena and Atlas Centaur.
(Reference from Atlas (rocket family))
(Reference from Atlas (rocket family))
