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Atlas V 421

Atlas V 421 is the configuration with a four-meter payload fairing, two strap-on solid rocket boosters, and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. It first flew on 2007-10-11; 9 vehicles have flown through 2022-08-04.

Atlas V 421
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

Family Name
Atlas V
Full Name
Atlas V 421
Status
retired
Type
rocket
Variant Name
421

Details

Description
Atlas V 421 is the configuration with a four-meter payload fairing, two strap-on solid rocket boosters, and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. It first flew on 2007-10-11; 9 vehicles have flown through 2022-08-04.
Dimensions
Diameter
…
First Flight Year
2,007
Last Flight Year
2,022
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 engine system powers the Atlas V booster first stage.
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Two exact Aerojet AJ-60A strap-on solid rocket motors augment the 421 first stage.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      second-stage
      Variant Notes
      One exact RL10C-1-1 engine powers the single-engine Centaur upper stage.
    Name
    Atlas V 421 installation
    Notes
    Applies only to Atlas V 421: one RD-180 booster engine, two AJ-60A strap-on solid motors, and one RL10C-1-1 Centaur engine. Atlas V 401/411/5xx siblings remain separate configurations.
Rocket Specs
Reusability
expendable
Stages Count
2

Links

Official Url
https://www.ulalaunch.com/rockets/atlas-v

Assets & Meta

Creation Time
July 16, 2026 at 20:38:29 UTC
Updated Time
July 31, 2026 at 23:18:23 UTC
Image
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