# Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B

> type of American expendable launch vehicle

**Wikidata**: [Q99672663](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q99672663)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/atlas-slv-3-agena-b

## Summary
The Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B is a type of American expendable launch vehicle manufactured by Convair. It is a specific rocket model configured as a subclass of the Atlas-Agena D launch system, comprising an Atlas SLV-3 first stage and an Agena B upper stage. This vehicle was utilized by the United States, with its recorded service taking place on June 7, 1966.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** It is a rocket model and a subclass of the Atlas-Agena D expendable launch system.
*   **Components:** The vehicle consists of two primary parts: the Atlas SLV-3 and the Agena B upper stage.
*   **Manufacturer:** The launch vehicle was manufactured by Convair.
*   **Origin:** It is of United States origin.
*   **First Flight:** The first flight occurred on June 7, 1966.
*   **Service Retirement:** The service retirement date is recorded as June 7, 1966.
*   **Notable Payload:** It is associated with the launch of OGO 3, an American geophysical research satellite.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of vehicle is the Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B?
A: The Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B is an American expendable launch vehicle, meaning it is a rocket designed for one-time use to put payloads into space.

### Q: Who manufactured the Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B?
A: The Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B was manufactured by the American company Convair.

### Q: When was the Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B used?
A: According to records, the vehicle's first flight and service retirement both occurred on June 7, 1966.

### Q: What was the primary composition of this launch vehicle?
A: The vehicle was composed of the Atlas SLV-3 rocket stage paired with the Agena B upper stage.

## Why It Matters
The Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B represents a specific configuration within the lineage of the widely used Atlas-Agena launch systems. As a subclass of the Atlas-Agena D, it illustrates the modular evolution of American rocketry during the 1960s, where standardized core stages like the Atlas SLV-3 were paired with different upper stages to meet specific mission profiles.

This vehicle is significant for its role in launching the OGO 3 (Orbiting Geophysical Observatory) satellite. By facilitating the deployment of OGO 3, the Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B contributed directly to American geophysical research and the scientific understanding of the Earth's near-space environment. Its designation as a distinct model highlights the precise categorization required in aerospace history to differentiate between the various combinations of boosters and upper stages employed during the Space Race. The synchronization of its first flight and retirement dates in available records suggests it may have served a very specific, limited operational window or mission set within the broader Atlas family.

## Notable For
*   **Specific Configuration:** Being a distinct subclass of the Atlas-Agena D system, utilizing the specific pairing of the SLV-3 and Agena B stages.
*   **Scientific Contribution:** Serving as the launch vehicle for OGO 3, a key American geophysical research satellite.
*   **Manufacturing Legacy:** Being a product of Convair, a major American aerospace manufacturer.
*   **Single-Date Record:** Having identical first flight and service retirement dates (June 7, 1966) in structural data records.

## Body
### Design and Composition
The Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B is an expendable launch system identified as a distinct model within the broader family of Atlas rockets. Structurally, it is defined by the integration of two specific stages:
*   **Atlas SLV-3:** The primary booster stage.
*   **Agena B:** The upper stage used for orbital insertion or deep-space trajectories.

This combination places the vehicle as a direct subclass of the Atlas-Agena D class of rockets. The system was designed and built by Convair, a prominent aerospace manufacturer in the United States.

### Operational History
The operational record for the Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B is highly specific within knowledge base structures. The vehicle is categorized as an instance of a "rocket model" originating from the United States.
*   **First Flight:** The recorded first flight date is June 7, 1966.
*   **Service Retirement:** The service entry and retirement are both logged as June 7, 1966.

### Mission Payloads
The vehicle is structurally linked to the deployment of specific spacecraft. A primary related entity is **OGO 3**.
*   **OGO 3:** An American geophysical research satellite. The existence of this satellite is contextually linked to the launch capabilities of the Atlas SLV-3 Agena-B configuration.