# Atlas-F Agena-D

> type of American expendable launch vehicle

**Wikidata**: [Q99672841](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q99672841)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/atlas-f-agena-d

## Summary
The Atlas-F Agena-D is a type of American expendable launch vehicle derived from the SM-65F Atlas missile. Manufactured by Convair in the United States, this rocket model consisted of an SM-65F Atlas first stage paired with an Agena D upper stage. It is notably associated with the launch of the Seasat satellite on June 27, 1978.

## Key Facts
*   **Type:** American expendable launch vehicle (rocket model).
*   **Components:** Comprised of the SM-65F Atlas and the Agena D.
*   **Manufacturer:** Convair.
*   **Country of Origin:** United States.
*   **First Flight:** June 27, 1978.
*   **Service Retirement:** June 27, 1978.
*   **Classification:** A subclass of the Atlas-Agena D launch system and the SM-65F Atlas missile.
*   **Notable Payload:** Seasat, an Earth-orbiting satellite designed for remote sensing of the Earth's oceans.
*   **Alias:** Also known as Atlas-F/Agena-D.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Atlas-F Agena-D?
A: The Atlas-F Agena-D is an American expendable launch vehicle. It was a specific configuration combining the SM-65F Atlas missile variant with an Agena D upper stage, used to place payloads into orbit.

### Q: When did the Atlas-F Agena-D fly?
A: The Atlas-F Agena-D flew once, with its first and only flight occurring on June 27, 1978. This date marks both its first flight and its service retirement.

### Q: What satellite did the Atlas-F Agena-D launch?
A: This launch vehicle was used to launch Seasat, an Earth-orbiting satellite designed for the remote sensing of the Earth's oceans.

### Q: Who manufactured the Atlas-F Agena-D?
A: The launch vehicle was manufactured by the American company Convair.

## Why It Matters
The Atlas-F Agena-D represents a specific, utilitarian adaptation of Cold War missile technology for scientific advancement. As a variant of the SM-65F Atlas—a missile originally developed for defense—it illustrates the common aerospace practice of converting surplus or existing military hardware into space launch systems.

This vehicle is historically significant for its role in deploying **Seasat**, the first Earth-orbiting satellite designed specifically for remote sensing of the oceans. The mission provided critical data on ocean surface winds, temperatures, and wave heights, laying the groundwork for modern oceanography and climate monitoring. Although its recorded service life was extremely brief—consisting of a single flight on June 27, 1978—the Atlas-F Agena-D served as the crucial bridge between the legacy Atlas missile program and advanced environmental research.

## Notable For
*   **Conversion of Missile Technology:** It successfully adapted the SM-65F Atlas, a variant of the Atlas missile, into an orbital launch platform.
*   **Oceanography Milestone:** It launched Seasat, a pioneering satellite for ocean remote sensing.
*   **Specific Configuration:** It is a distinct subclass of the broader Atlas-Agena D family, differentiated by its specific use of the "F" model Atlas.
*   **Single-Flight Service Record:** The vehicle's service entry and retirement both occurred on June 27, 1978, indicating a very specific, limited operational window in the source records.

## Body
### Design and Development
The Atlas-F Agena-D is an expendable launch system classified as a rocket model. It is a subclass of both the **Atlas-Agena D** and the **SM-65F Atlas**. The vehicle integrates two primary components: the **SM-65F Atlas** (a variant of the Atlas missile) as the first stage and the **Agena D** as the upper stage. The system was manufactured by **Convair** in the **United States**.

### Operational History
The launch vehicle's operational history is defined by a single key date:
*   **First Flight:** June 27, 1978.
*   **Retirement:** June 27, 1978.

During this period, the Atlas-F Agena-D was utilized to launch **Seasat**. Seasat is identified as a "Thing" related to this launch vehicle—an Earth-orbiting satellite specifically engineered for the remote sensing of Earth's oceanic environments.