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Atlas V 551

Atlas family · built by United Launch Alliance · maiden flight 2006-01-19

Profile data last updated: 2026-08-15T20:08:04.839063+00:00 | 7531-09-01

Atlas V is an expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. It was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin and is now operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture with Boeing. Each Atlas V rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage. The RD-180 engines are provided by RD Amross, while Aerojet Rocketdyne provides both the RL10 engines and the strap-on boosters used in some configurations. The standard payload fairing sizes are 4 or 5 meters in diameter and of various lengths. Fairings sizes as large as 7.2 m in diameter and up to 32.3 m in length have been considered. The rocket is assembled in Decatur, Alabama and Harlingen, Texas.

Specifications

Payload Capacity

Lifetime Launch Record

As reported by Launch Library 2 across this rocket's entire history, not just the launches tracked on this site.

Wikipedia