SM-65D Atlas D was first used as an intercontinental ballistic missile to deliver a nuclear weapon payload on a suborbital trajectory.
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12 Facts About SM-65D Atlas
2.
The SM-65D Atlas sank backwards through its own trail of fire until the Range Safety destruct command was issued at T+36 seconds.
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3.
Once again, all other systems in the SM-65D Atlas functioned well and there were no problems not directly attributable to the launcher malfunction.
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4.
At 60 seconds, the SM-65D Atlas was completely destroyed when the propellant tanks exploded.
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5.
SM-65D Atlas 74D broke up 70 seconds into launch due to a failure of the pitch gyro either due to an improper motor speed setting or torquing signals.
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6.
The SMRD had been conceived back in 1958 after the first SM-65D Atlas B failed in flight due to an inoperative yaw gyro, but was not phased into SM-65D Atlas vehicles until 1961.
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7.
One more SM-65D Atlas D was flown in 1963, an ABRES RV test on December 18, successfully.
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8.
The first attempt using SM-65D Atlas 172D miscarried when an incorrectly set sustainer PU valve caused fuel depletion and premature SECO.
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9.
Fourteen SM-65D Atlas Ds were launched in 1966, these included ten ABRES and Nike-Zeus tests and two OV launches.
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10.
Six SM-65D Atlas Ds were launched in 1967, five ABRES tests and one OV launch.
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11.
SM-65D Atlas D was deployed in limited numbers as an ICBM due to its radio guidance while the fully operational E and F-series missiles had inertial guidance packages and a different ignition system that allowed faster engine starts.
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12.
Mercury, the SM-65D Atlas D was used to launch four crewed Mercury spacecraft into low Earth orbit.
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