# Athena I

> American expendable launch system

**Wikidata**: [Q22786](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q22786)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athena_I)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/athena-i

## Summary
Athena I is an American expendable launch system, part of the Athena class of rockets, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It was designed to launch various payloads into orbit, including amateur radio and Earth observation satellites. The rocket was operational from 1995 to 2001.

## Key Facts
-   **Classification:** American expendable launch system and rocket model.
-   **Manufacturer:** Lockheed Martin.
-   **Operational Period:** Service entry on August 15, 1995, and service retirement on September 30, 2001.
-   **Height:** 18.90 metres.
-   **Gross Mass:** 66,300 kilograms.
-   **Price:** $17,000,000 (in 2000).
-   **Payload Capacity (Low Earth Orbit):** 820 kilograms.
-   **Payload Capacity (Sun-synchronous orbit):** 360 kilograms.
-   **Based On:** LGM-118 Peacekeeper.
-   **Primary Components:** Castor 120 (stage 1) and Orbus-21 (stage 2), with an optional OAM (stage 3).

## FAQs
### Q: What is Athena I?
A: Athena I is an American expendable launch system, a type of rocket model, developed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It belongs to the Athena class of launch vehicles.

### Q: When was Athena I in service?
A: Athena I began service on August 15, 1995, and was retired from service on September 30, 2001.

### Q: What was the payload capacity of Athena I?
A: Athena I could deliver a payload mass of 820 kilograms to low Earth orbit or 360 kilograms to Sun-synchronous orbit.

### Q: Who manufactured Athena I?
A: Athena I was manufactured by Lockheed Martin, a prominent American aerospace company.

## Why It Matters
Athena I played a role in providing commercial access to space during its operational period in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As an expendable launch system from a major aerospace manufacturer like Lockheed Martin, it offered a dedicated platform for placing various satellites, including Earth observation and amateur radio satellites, into orbit. Its design, partly based on the LGM-118 Peacekeeper missile, represented an effort to leverage existing technology for space launch capabilities. The Athena I contributed to the growing demand for smaller, more cost-effective launch solutions for specific payload requirements, demonstrating a segment of the commercial space industry's evolution. Its missions supported scientific research and communication endeavors through the satellites it deployed.

## Notable For
-   Being an American expendable launch system developed by Lockheed Martin, part of the Athena class.
-   Its specific design, which was based on the LGM-118 Peacekeeper missile.
-   Its capability to launch payloads up to 820 kg to low Earth orbit and 360 kg to Sun-synchronous orbit.
-   Its use in launching a variety of satellites, including amateur radio satellites like PCsat and Starshine 3, and Earth observation satellites such as Formosat-1 and Lewis.

## Body

### Overview
Athena I is an American expendable launch system, categorized as a rocket model. It is a member of the Athena class of launch vehicles, which were developed by Lockheed Martin. The system is also known by its aliases Lockheed Launch Vehicle (LLV), Lockheed Martin Launch Vehicle (LMLV), and Athena-1.

### Specifications
The Athena I had a height of 18.90 metres and a diameter of 2.36 metres. Its gross weight (mass) was 66,300 kilograms. As of 2000, the price for an Athena I launch was $17,000,000.

### Payload Capacity
The launch system was capable of delivering different payload masses depending on the target orbit:
-   **Low Earth Orbit (LEO):** 820 kilograms (for an altitude of 185 km).
-   **Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO):** 360 kilograms (for an altitude of 800 km).

### Components
Athena I was comprised of multiple stages:
-   **Stage 1:** Castor 120
-   **Stage 2:** Orbus-21
-   **Stage 3 (optional):** OAM

### Operational History
The Athena I entered service on August 15, 1995, and concluded its service on September 30, 2001. Its design was based on the LGM-118 Peacekeeper. The country of origin for Athena I is the United States.

### Notable Payloads
Athena I launched several satellites during its operational period, including:
-   PCsat (American amateur radio satellite)
-   Stanford Audiophonic Photographic Infrared Experiment (amateur radio satellite)
-   PicoSAT-9
-   Starshine 3 (amateur radio satellite)
-   Formosat-1 (Earth observation satellite)
-   Lewis (Earth imaging satellite)

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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/athena-llv.htm)
2. [Source](http://www.astronautix.com/a/athena-1.html)