Athena
Athena 2 with Lunar Prospector (Jan. 1998). Photo Credit : NASA , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Athena was a 1990s Lockheed Martin expendable launch system which underwent several name changes in its lifetime.
Quick Facts About the Athena.
- Type: Small, modular component launch vehicle.
- Origin : United states.
- In service : August 15, 1995 - September 30, 2001.
- Mass : 66,344 - 120,202 kg (146,264 - 265,000 lb).
- Length/Height : 19.8 - 30.48 m (65 - 100 ft).
- Diameter : 2.36 m (92 in).
- Payload to LEO : 794–1,896 kg (1,750–4,180 lb).
- Propellant: Class 1.3 HTPB
- Engines: First stage: 1 CAstor 120 solid with thrust of 1,900 kN (430,000 lbf). Second stage : ORBUS 21D solid with thrust of 194 kN (44,000 lbf).
Development began at the Lockheed Corporation in 1993, where the design was known as the Lockheed Launch Vehicle. The name was subsequently changed to the Lockheed Martin Launch Vehicle when Lockheed merged with Martin Marietta. Late in the program's life[when?] the name was finally changed to Athena, and all of the launches after the demonstration flight in August 1995 were conducted using that name. Athena was retired from service in 2001, but in September 2010 Athena was added to NASA's Launch Services II contract. It was announced that it would be put back into production, with launches set to resume in 2012. All production had ceased by March 2017
The Athena comes in two versions, Athena I and Athena II. The Athena I has two stages, the Thiokol Castor-120 first stage and a Pratt & Whitney ORBUS 21D upper stage, both powered by solid-fuel. The Athena II has three stages, the Castor-120 first and second stages, and an ORBUS 21D upper stage. For future flights, the Athena Ic and Athena IIc configurations would use Castor 30 stages instead of the Orbus 21D stages on the original versions.
The Athena comes in two versions, Athena I and Athena II. The Athena I has two stages, the Thiokol Castor-120 first stage and a Pratt & Whitney ORBUS 21D upper stage, both powered by solid-fuel. The Athena II has three stages, the Castor-120 first and second stages, and an ORBUS 21D upper stage. For future flights, the Athena Ic and Athena IIc configurations would use Castor 30 stages instead of the Orbus 21D stages on the original versions
Credit/References and for further info please see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athena_(rocket_family)
Athena 1 rocket launching from Kodiak Island in Alaska (Sept. 30, 2001). Photo Credit : NASA , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.