Athena (rocket family)

The Athena rocket family (later renamed Lockheed Martin Launch Vehicle, or LMLV, and subsequently the Athena I and Athena II) was a series of American expendable launch systems used primarily in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the rockets were intended to provide a cost-effective and reliable option for launching small to medium-sized satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) and other trajectories.

The Athena I was a two-stage rocket, consisting of a Thiokol Castor 120 solid rocket motor for the first stage and a Pratt & Whitney ORBUS 21D solid rocket motor for the second stage. It was designed to lift payloads of up to approximately 800 kilograms (1,800 pounds) to LEO.

The Athena II was a three-stage rocket, using a Thiokol Castor 120 for the first stage, a Castor 120 for the second stage, and an ORBUS 21D for the third stage. This configuration significantly increased its payload capacity, allowing it to launch payloads of up to approximately 1,900 kilograms (4,200 pounds) to LEO.

The Athena rockets were marketed for both commercial and government missions. Some notable payloads launched by Athena rockets include NASA's Lunar Prospector mission (Athena II) and several commercial communications satellites. Despite some successes, the program ultimately suffered from a lack of consistent demand and was retired after its final launch in 2001. The development and operational history of the Athena family provide valuable insights into the challenges of the commercial launch market and the evolution of expendable launch vehicle technology.