# Atlas V 531

> United Launch Alliance launch vehicle

**Wikidata**: [Q16351997](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16351997)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/atlas-v-531

## Summary
Atlas V 531 is a specific configuration of the Atlas V launch vehicle developed by United Launch Alliance. It is an American expendable launch system used for deploying satellites into orbit.

## Key Facts
- Atlas V 531 is a configuration of the Atlas V rocket family
- It is manufactured by United Launch Alliance (ULA)
- The "531" designation indicates specific configuration parameters
- It is classified as a rocket model and subclass of Atlas V
- Has a sitelink count of 2 across Wikimedia projects
- Associated with the commons category "Atlas V 531"
- Available in languages including English (commons) and Latvian (lv)
- Described on Wikidata as a United Launch Alliance launch vehicle

## FAQs
### Q: What does the "531" designation mean in Atlas V 531?
A: The "531" designation refers to the specific configuration of the Atlas V rocket, indicating the number of solid rocket boosters (5), the diameter of the payload fairing (3 meters), and the number of engines in the Centaur upper stage (1).

### Q: Who manufactures the Atlas V 531?
A: Atlas V 531 is manufactured by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

### Q: What type of missions does Atlas V 531 typically perform?
A: Atlas V 531 is used as an expendable launch system for deploying various types of satellites into orbit, including military communications satellites and commercial communications satellites.

## Why It Matters
Atlas V 531 represents a critical capability in America's space launch infrastructure. As part of the Atlas V family, it provides reliable access to space for both national security and commercial payloads. The specific 531 configuration offers a particular balance of payload capacity and performance characteristics that makes it suitable for certain mission profiles. United Launch Alliance's Atlas V series, including the 531 variant, has been instrumental in maintaining U.S. access to space capabilities, supporting everything from military communications to scientific research satellites. The Atlas V program demonstrates American engineering excellence in rocket technology and continues to play a vital role in both government and commercial space operations.

## Notable For
- Specific 5-3-1 configuration within the Atlas V family
- Manufactured by United Launch Alliance, a major American launch provider
- Used for deploying both military and commercial satellites
- Part of the broader Atlas V expendable launch system family
- Has dedicated Wikimedia presence with commons category and multilingual support

## Body
### Configuration Details
The Atlas V 531 configuration is one of several variants in the Atlas V family. The numerical designation follows ULA's standard nomenclature where the first digit indicates the number of solid rocket boosters (5 in this case), the second digit represents the payload fairing diameter in meters (3 meters), and the third digit shows the number of engines on the Centaur upper stage (1 engine).

### Launch Vehicle Classification
Atlas V 531 is classified as a rocket model and specifically as a subclass of the broader Atlas V launch vehicle family. This places it within the category of American expendable launch systems, meaning it is designed for single-use missions where the entire vehicle is expended during the launch process.

### Associated Satellites
The Atlas V 531 has been used to launch various satellites including military communications satellites (USA-214, USA-235, USA-246) and commercial communications satellites (SES-20, SES-21). These missions demonstrate the versatility of this launch vehicle configuration across different payload types and customer requirements.

### Technical Documentation
The vehicle has associated technical documentation and media available through Wikimedia Commons, with a dedicated category and image resources. This includes photographic documentation of launches, such as the AEHF-3 mission launch image available through Wikimedia.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Atlas V 531",
  "description": "United Launch Alliance launch vehicle, specific configuration of Atlas V rocket family",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/QXXXXXXXXX",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_V#Atlas_V_531"
  ],
  "additionalType": "rocket model",
  "category": "Atlas V"
}