Space remains one of the most mysterious and romantic themes. As soon as we start talking about it, we somehow realize that we know so little and that, maybe, it is even better than the full understanding of everything that is happening in and beyond our Galaxy.
Nevertheless, those who have enough enthusiasm and courage to throw themselves into exploring the universe and try to explain it to others cannot but deserve great respect. So, the team of our paper writing service are really happy to share and support your interest in space theories and discoveries.
In order to contribute to your devotion, we have prepared some compelling information on the Atlas Space Program. Let’s check out what you can focus on in your research essay. Make sure this topic will make your paper stand out!
Writing an Introduction: What Is So Special About the Atlas Project
Originally, in 1950s a pioneering Belgium-American rocket engineer, Karel Bossart, proposed the Atlas name for an innovated ICBM (it is an abbreviation for guided intercontinental ballistic missile, created to deliver nuclear weapons over long distances). Despite such a military purpose, the Atlas ICBM did not serve as a nuclear armed missile for a long time. In 1960s, for example, the first four American astronauts Alan B. Shepard, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, and Gorgon Cooper were launched to orbit the Earth with the Atlas program.
By the way, the name of the project comes from Greek mythology. According to one of the most popular myths, Atlas is a mighty Titan, giant deity of incredible strength, condemned to hold up the skies. So, probably, no other name would suit this space program better.
Nowadays, Atlas is a successful large-scale American provider of military, scientific, and even commercial “space services”. Interestingly, as soon as you enter their official website, it may seem to you that these guys treat their services as something absolutely casual. Well, yes, they can launch a satellite for you or “provide you with affordable solutions for space access”. So what? It is our future, in its pure form.
Writing a Body Part: Rocket Family and Its Features
Over the last 50 years, about 600 Atlas launches have been successfully conducted in the US. More than the half of rockets were launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (Florida), and the rest were launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base (California).
The main reason of such popularity and success lies in the special design of Atlas rockets. They feature unique staging system and balloon structure. What do they imply?
The Atlas rocket has three engines that are started while it is still on the ground. However, only one of them, the inner or sustainer engine, remains with the rocket on its way to Earth’s orbit. The two outer engines, or boosters, only help lift the rocket up in the air. They are used during the first minutes of the flight, and then they are dropped. Therefore, the rocket gets much lighter and needs less fuel, as it can continue flying with only one sustainer engine.
At the same time, the structure of the Atlas fuel tanks is also very lightweight. The thing is that these fuel tanks are continuously pressurized so they cannot collapse under their own weight. Due to such design, conventionally staged rockets can be approached in performance, while all engines can be started and tested safely before the launch.
Writing a Conclusion: Current Achievements and Future Opportunities
The Atlas Space Project is a great contribution to the future of aeronautics and manned space exploration in general. Yet, I believe that most scientists and engineers, as well as everybody who has ever heard about this program, wish it served the humanity only peaceful purposes, considering the fact that Atlas can easily boast a considerable number of very successful non-military launches.
For example, the Atlas-Agena, one of the members of the Atlas rocket family, endured 109 launches during 18 years, between 1960 and 1978. It helped NASA obtain the very first detailed images of the Moon surface as well as launch the first unmanned probes to Mars and Venus.
If you would like to write about a more contemporary achievement, you can remember that in December 2016 a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 booster lifted a satellite of the world’s highest broadband capacity up into the space. The satellite was aimed at connecting American rural areas to high-speed and high-quality Internet service.
Today the Atlas specialists say that the role and popularity of the project will literally sky-rocket in 50-60 years, when the humanity will be ready enough for commercial space travel. So, what about flying to Mars with your grandchildren on some weekend?
We hope these facts have inspired you to complete a great research paper on the Atlas program. Good luck with your writing!