Atlas V

Atlas V is a partially expendable rocket designed and manufactured by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. It serves as a launch vehicle for a variety of missions, including satellite deployment, cargo resupply, and interplanetary exploration. The Atlas V features multiple configurations, distinguished by different configurations of its payload fairings and boosters, allowing it to carry a range of payload weights and sizes into space. It is known for its reliability, having launched many important missions since its first flight in 2002, including national security payloads, scientific satellites, and commercial cargo missions to the International Space Station (ISS). The rocket uses a combination of powerful RD-180 engines on its first stage and solid rocket boosters on some variants to achieve required thrust. The Atlas V has been a key part of the United States’ space launch capability, contributing significantly to both government and commercial space endeavors.