On November 27, 1963, at 19:03:23 GMT, AC-2 (Atlas 126D and Centaur stage #2) launched just five days after President Kennedy's assassination. The redesigned Centaur stage operated smoothly, performing a single burn to achieve a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) with parameters of 474 x 1586 km, an inclination of 30.4°, and a period of 105.8 minutes, where it remained as of 2021. The insulation panels were permanently attached due to unresolved jettison issues, with vibration data indicating that they would have detached prematurely if not bolted down. The final solution to the panel problem increased the dry mass of the Centaur, reducing its payload capacity. This Atlas-Centaur 2 launch vehicle was used for performance and structural integrity tests, carrying a payload of 4621 kg, including 907 kg of sensors, equipment, and telemetry.
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| First launch of Atlas-Centaur cover by "Space Craft", postmarked at Cape Canaveral on November 27, 1963. |
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| Photo: The first test flight of the Centaur rocket. |
(Reference from
Atlas-Centaur)
