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Atlas III launch vehicle family

Atlas III was Lockheed Martin's transitional Atlas-Centaur generation. It replaced the classic booster-and-sustainer propulsion package with one Russian-built RD-180 while retaining pressure-stabilized Atlas propellant tanks. Two IIIA and four IIIB vehicles completed six successful missions from 2000 through 2005, introducing the RD-180 and stretched Centaur architecture carried into Atlas V.

Atlas III launch vehicle family
NASA/Bill Ingalls · Stored/public JPEG is byte-identical to the NASA canonical 201108050008HQ large asset (1279x1920, SHA-256 54592683e90ae091eefed5173f1276a07ae2326599475516c32c208dbfd60e1c). NASA Images API metadata identifies the exact image as Atlas V Rocket Launches with Juno Spacecraft, photographed by NASA/Bill Ingalls, and describes the Atlas V/Juno launch from Space Launch Complex 41 on August 5, 2011. NASA current Images and Media Usage Guidelines state that NASA content may be used factually or informationally with NASA acknowledged, while NASA-hosted third-party content is marked and NASA use does not convey rights; commercial use must not imply endorsement and NASA logos and identifiers remain protected: https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-brand-center/images-and-media/. This is an asset-level, conservative factual/editorial reuse basis with NASA/Bill Ingalls attribution, not a blanket license for promotional content, merchandise, NASA branding, or endorsement. · Source
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Identity

Aliases
Atlas III seriesAtlas III-Centaur family
Family Name
Atlas III
Full Name
Atlas III launch vehicle family
Status
retired
Type
rocket

Details

Description
Atlas III was Lockheed Martin's transitional Atlas-Centaur generation. It replaced the classic booster-and-sustainer propulsion package with one Russian-built RD-180 while retaining pressure-stabilized Atlas propellant tanks. Two IIIA and four IIIB vehicles completed six successful missions from 2000 through 2005, introducing the RD-180 and stretched Centaur architecture carried into Atlas V.
First Flight Year
2,000
Last Flight Year
2,005
Manufacturer
Operator
Parent Vehicle Family
Propulsion Configurations
  • Entries
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      One exact RD-180 on the Atlas III redesigned first stage.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      second-stage
      Variant Notes
      One exact RL10A-4-1B on the Atlas IIIA single-engine Centaur.
    Name
    Atlas IIIA
    Notes
    Atlas IIIA configuration: one RD-180 on the redesigned booster and one RL10A-4-1B on the single-engine Centaur upper stage.
  • Entries
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      One exact RD-180 on the Atlas III redesigned first stage.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      second-stage
      Variant Notes
      One exact RL10A-4-1B on the Atlas IIIB single-engine Common Centaur option.
    Name
    Atlas IIIB (single-engine Centaur)
    Notes
    Atlas IIIB single-engine Centaur option: the Atlas III RD-180 booster with one RL10A-4-1B on the stretched Centaur upper stage.
  • Entries
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      One exact RD-180 on the Atlas III redesigned first stage.
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      second-stage
      Variant Notes
      Two exact RL10A-4-1B engines on the Atlas IIIB dual-engine Common Centaur option.
    Name
    Atlas IIIB (dual-engine Centaur)
    Notes
    Atlas IIIB dual-engine Centaur option: the Atlas III RD-180 booster with two RL10A-4-1B engines on the stretched Centaur upper stage.
Rocket Specs
Reusability
expendable
Stages Count
2

Links

Official Url
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/3951690/centaur-upper-stage-installation-recognizes-trailblazing-space-program

Assets & Meta

Creation Time
July 14, 2026 at 06:51:57 UTC
Updated Time
August 1, 2026 at 13:49:20 UTC
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