The Atlas I was a US expendable launch system manufactured by General Dynamics in the 1990s to launch a variety of satellites. It was largely a commercial rebrand of the Atlas G, but did feature several electrical and guidance improvements. Atlas I did not feature any major payload capacity improvements over its predecessor but did offer a larger payload fairing option. Eleven launches took place, with three failures.
Launch of the maiden flight of the Atlas I, with the CRRES satellite
An Atlas I (serial number AC-69) on Pad 36B prior to launch of the CRRES satellite in 1990.
An Atlas I (serial number AC-77) on Pad 36B before the launch of the GOES-J weather satellite in 1995.
The Atlas G, also known as Atlas G Centaur-D1AR was an American expendable launch system derived from the Atlas-Centaur. It was a member of the Atlas family of rockets and was used to launch seven communication satellites during the mid to late 1980s. Atlas G consisted of an improved Atlas core with modernized avionics and stretched propellant tanks. The Centaur stage also had several updated components and other technical improvements. Atlas G flew 7 times, with all missions aiming to go to a geostationary transfer orbit. It was replaced by the near-identical Atlas I, which had an improved guidance system and offered a larger payload fairing.
Launch of FLTSATCOM-7 on an Atlas G (AC-66).
An early Centaur stage during assembly at General Dynamics in 1962
Atlas-G (AC-63) with Intelsat V-510
