This week in history - Feb. 26, 1954: Air Force awards contract for Atlas ICBM propulsion system

The Air Force awarded Convair a contract in September 1951 to begin design of a ballistic missile. Air Force officials awarded a contract for propulsion system for the Atlas ICBM to the Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation, Inc., on Feb. 26, 1954. Rocketdyne already possessed invaluable propulsion system experience derived from its development of the engine employed on the Navaho missile. The first Atlas flight took place June 11, 1957. The Atlas D was the first operational missile and the first Atlas D squadron achieved initial operational capability in March 1961. After the Minuteman become operational in early 1963, the Atlas became rapidly obsolete. By October 1964, all Atlas D missiles had been phased out, followed by the Atlas E/F in April 1965. About 350 Atlas ICBMs of all versions were built, with a peak deployment of 129 (30 D, 27 E, 72 F).

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This week in history - Feb. 26, 1954: Air Force awards contract for Atlas ICBM propulsion system

The Air Force awarded Convair a contract in September 1951 to begin design of a ballistic missile. Air Force officials awarded a contract for propulsion system for the Atlas ICBM to the Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation, Inc., on Feb. 26, 1954. Rocketdyne already possessed invaluable propulsion system experience derived from its development of the engine employed on the Navaho missile. The first Atlas flight took place June 11, 1957. The Atlas D was the first operational missile and the first Atlas D squadron achieved initial operational capability in March 1961. After the Minuteman become operational in early 1963, the Atlas became rapidly obsolete. By October 1964, all Atlas D missiles had been phased out, followed by the Atlas E/F in April 1965. About 350 Atlas ICBMs of all versions were built, with a peak deployment of 129 (30 D, 27 E, 72 F).

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This week in history - Feb. 26, 1954: Air Force awards contract for Atlas ICBM propulsion system

Published Feb. 28, 2013
By AFNWC Historian
Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center

KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. -- The Air Force awarded Convair a contract in September 1951 to begin design of a ballistic missile. Air Force officials awarded a contract for propulsion system for the Atlas ICBM to the Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation, Inc., on Feb. 26, 1954. Rocketdyne already possessed invaluable propulsion system experience derived from its development of the engine employed on the Navaho missile. The first Atlas flight took place June 11, 1957. The Atlas D was the first operational missile and the first Atlas D squadron achieved initial operational capability in March 1961. After the Minuteman become operational in early 1963, the Atlas became rapidly obsolete. By October 1964, all Atlas D missiles had been phased out, followed by the Atlas E/F in April 1965. About 350 Atlas ICBMs of all versions were built, with a peak deployment of 129 (30 D, 27 E, 72 F).