# SM-65F Atlas

> variant of the Atlas missile

**Wikidata**: [Q7391030](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7391030)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM-65F_Atlas)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sm-65f-atlas

## Summary
The SM-65F Atlas, also known as the Atlas-F, is an American missile model and a specific variant of the SM-65 Atlas missile family. It is classified as an expendable launch vehicle, designed to be used once for space or ballistic delivery before being discarded.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Missile model and expendable launch vehicle (ELV).
- **Manufacturer:** Convair.
- **Country of Origin:** United States.
- **First Flight:** August 8, 1961.
- **Subclass of:** SM-65 Atlas and expendable launch vehicle.
- **Parent Class:** Atlas-F Agena-D.
- **Alias:** Atlas-F.
- **Freebase ID:** /m/053r50_.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the SM-65F Atlas?
A: The SM-65F Atlas is a variant of the SM-65 Atlas missile developed in the United States. It served as both a missile model and an expendable launch vehicle for space-related applications.

### Q: Who built the SM-65F Atlas?
A: The vehicle was manufactured by Convair, an American aerospace company.

### Q: When was the first flight of the SM-65F Atlas?
A: The SM-65F Atlas completed its first flight on August 8, 1961.

### Q: Is the SM-65F Atlas reusable?
A: No, it is classified as an expendable launch vehicle, meaning it is expended after a single use.

## Why It Matters
The SM-65F Atlas represents a significant iteration in the development of American aerospace technology during the early 1960s. As a variant of the SM-65 Atlas, it contributed to the evolution of the Atlas family from its origins as a missile system into a reliable expendable launch vehicle for space exploration. Its role within the Atlas-F Agena-D class highlights its importance in the broader context of American launch capabilities. By utilizing the engineering of Convair, the SM-65F helped establish the technical foundation for the United States' ability to deliver payloads into space using vehicles that were discarded after use. Its first flight in 1961 occurred during a pivotal era of the space race, marking its place in the history of mid-20th-century flight and missile development.

## Notable For
- **Atlas-F Designation:** A specific operational variant of the foundational SM-65 Atlas missile series.
- **Expendable Design:** Part of the class of space launch vehicles that are not recovered after their mission is complete.
- **Convair Manufacturing:** Produced by Convair, a major contributor to early American ballistic and space launch programs.
- **Atlas-F Agena-D Component:** Served as a primary element of the Atlas-F Agena-D expendable launch system.

## Body

### Classification and Origins
The SM-65F Atlas is a missile model and a variant of the broader SM-65 Atlas lineage. It is categorized as an expendable launch vehicle (ELV), a class of space launch vehicles that are expended after use. The vehicle was developed and manufactured in the United States by Convair.

### Operational History
The SM-65F Atlas reached a major milestone with its first flight on August 8, 1961. It is closely associated with the Atlas-F Agena-D, which is a specific type of American expendable launch vehicle. In technical documentation and databases, it is frequently referred to by the alias Atlas-F.

### Technical Context
As a subclass of the SM-65 Atlas, the SM-65F shares the fundamental design characteristics of its parent class while incorporating specific modifications for its role. It is documented in several international knowledge bases, with Wikipedia entries available in English, Hebrew, and Portuguese. Its data is tracked under the Freebase identifier /m/053r50_ and the Wikimedia Commons category "Convair SM-65F."