Lockheed Martin Athena
The Athena launcher (initially known as Lockheed Martin Launch Vehicle) was a light launcher being offered in three versions. The Athena 1 version consisted of three stages and was capable of placing 794 kg into a low-Earth orbit. The vehicle had a length of 19.81 m.
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| Photo: Lockheed Martin |
| Athena 1 |
| Stage | Length | Diameter | Engine | Fuel | Thrust |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.81 m | 2.36 m | 1 Thiokol Castor 120 | solid | 1,553,225 N |
| 2 | 3.15 m | 2.34 m | 1 UTC Orbis 21D | solid | 183,015 N |
| 3 | 1.01 m | 2.34 m | 4 Primex MR-107 | hydrazine | 890 N |
Specifications for Athena 1
The four stage Athena 2 version, which had a length of 30.48 m, had an additional stage powered by a Castor 120 inserted between the first and second stage of the Athena 1. The Athena 2 was capable of placing a 1896 kg payload into a low-Earth orbit.
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| Photo: Lockheed Martin |
| Athena 2 |
| Stage | Length | Diameter | Engine | Fuel | Thrust |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.81 m | 2.36 m | 1 Thiokol Castor 120 | solid | 1,553,225 N |
| 2 | 8.81 m | 2.36 m | 1 Thiokol Castor 120 | solid | 1,553,225 N |
| 3 | 3.15 m | 2.34 m | 1 UTC Orbis 21D | solid | 183,015 N |
| 4 | 1.01 m | 2.34 m | 4 Primex MR-107 | hydrazine | 890 N |
Specifications for Athena 2
A final version, Athena 3 was planned receive two to six Castor 4 strap-on boosters, providing it with a 5000 kg launch capability, but it was never flown. Between 15 August 1995 and 30 September 2001, seven Athena launches took place of which two failed.
Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 3
Last Updated: 8 July 2003