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Agena Target Vehicle (ATV) atop Atlas SLV-3. The ATV was designed from a modified RM-81 Agena D upper stage, and used as a docking target for the Gemini program. The first of these missions resulted in a perilous experience with the RCS system on the Gemini capsule. This is my most detailed replica yet, hence the long waiting time (with the addition of school taking up most of my time), and I am confident that it is nearly 100% accurate (with the exception of the sustainer engine not having a nozzle extension, and the separation of one of the boosters from the half-stage during staging). Other than those minor inaccuracies, I have greatly improved the accuracy of the launch vehicle by making the "extensions" of the half-stage boosters connected to the main tank more squared off (I only recently found this out), re-shaping and detailing the base of the sustainer engine and adding little details to the outside of the half-stage.
Note: I know that the docking port should be located inside the docking collar, but I had to add a small docking port at the front because inlets are only see-through, not actually hollow, so connection would be impossible without the little port. (the Gemini in the pictures was attached to the docking port in the back of the collar in the designer, which makes it look more accurate).
Setup procedure:
Disable RCS at launch.
Once in orbit, move slider 1 up to full to extend the radar. Only enable RCS for translation when in close proximity with the Gemini in the event that the Gemini is somehow unable to maneuver to the ATV.
Enjoy!

GENERAL INFO

  • Successors 1 craft(s) +56 bonus
  • Created On: iOS
  • Game Version: 0.8.107.0
  • Price: $7,546k
  • Number of Parts: 177
  • Dimensions: 28 m x 4 m x 4 m

PERFORMANCE

  • Total Delta V: 6.6km/s
  • Total Thrust: 2.8MN
  • Engines: 10
  • Wet Mass: 61,304kg
  • Dry Mass: -14,499kg

STAGES

Stage Engines Delta V Thrust Burn Mass
1 5 6.3km/s 1.1MN 2.6m 61,304kg
3 4 0m/s 1.3MN 0s 20,130kg
4 1 334m/s 376kN 17s 20,130kg

15 Comments

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    I’m not saying this to be rude, but I just wanna let it out and be done, I cannot find a SINGLE ATLAS that can reach orbit without getting into a weird elliptical orbit

    7 months ago
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    @HistoricalRockets

    This one has a few problems I forgot to mention:
    1. The half stage when it is ejected gets caught on the full stage booster itself.
    2. The 2nd stage booster isn’t very stable at all.

    4.4 years ago
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    @HistoricalRockets Much appreciated! I think the real achievement of the Aggregat replicas I have is that their ballistic performance is really close to reality for not having a lot of parts, but even then they run pretty well on devices because they don’t have an extreme number of parts. Once I get to the A9 and the orbital stages for that, and ultimately the American Von Braun rockets, the part count will balloon pretty quickly, considering every rocket from here on was based on the A4 and, using that as a starting point making every other design until Redstone.

    +1 4.5 years ago
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    @TopSecret2 Thanks! I just checked out a couple of your rockets, really nice job on the shaping. Keep it up!

    4.5 years ago
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    All your designs look really nice. Nice to see another IOS based developer! I’m starting off with the really really old rockets by Wernher Von Braun, the Aggregat series. The Wasserfall, the smaller version of the A4 (V-2 missile) was reproduced by the US as the Hermes A-1, and lead to a list of designs culminating in the Hermes C, also known as the Redstone rocket.

    +1 4.5 years ago
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    been anticipating this. nice job dude

    +1 4.6 years ago
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    45.4k MarioG

    @HistoricalRockets thank you

    +1 4.6 years ago
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    @MarioG also you have dope rockets on your page

    +1 4.6 years ago
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    Very true, dw about it though. We’re both really accurate builders so it’s all good. @MarioG

    +1 4.6 years ago
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    Thank you! I had no idea, but I’ll def incorporate that into future builds @AstroTommy. I agree, it is quite frustrating to see little white jets poking through your interstage during launch 😂

    4.6 years ago
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    45.4k MarioG

    @HistoricalRockets sorry then, the first stage looked extremly similar that was my bad

    +1 4.6 years ago
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    Hey there @MarioG, I am aware that you have a similar Atlas-Agena on the site, but I cannot and did not download it on my phone due to its size. Although I do think the craft in the screenshots looks cool, I designed this completely on my own. I originally built the rocket base for my earlier Mercury-Atlas craft, and that’s what I am describing the modifications of in the description. That’s because I forgot about the base of the tank when originally designing that craft, and decided to edit it last night after seeing footage of an assembly line of Atlas tanks without half-stages attached in an old documentary about Atlas, along with the extensions to the boosters which I had previously made circular. The upper stage is also completely original.

    +1 4.6 years ago
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    "Setup procedure:
    Disable RCS at launch. "

    I have just recently learned that you can set up the RCS to be already dissabled at launch...:
    -Select your command pod / chip
    -Open Part Properties
    -Under "Command Pod" click "Edit Activation Groups"
    -Untick RCS and it will be start in the dissabled position at launch 😉

    I also hated always having to dissable RCS before launching every time!

    +1 4.6 years ago
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    45.4k MarioG

    i quite enjoy the modifications you made but if i am correct the vast majority of the main rocket is not your it is another atlas you have changed enough to not be direct copy but i believe some credit might be due. (correct me if i am wrong)

    4.6 years ago
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    21.0k Rafaele

    That looks amazing!!!

    +1 4.6 years ago

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