Athena II

Athena II was a commercial launch vehicle developed by Lockheed Martin. It was an evolution of the Athena I, designed to carry heavier payloads to low Earth orbit (LEO) and other orbits. The Athena family of rockets was intended to provide cost-effective access to space for both commercial and government customers.

The Athena II was a three-stage rocket. The first two stages utilized solid rocket motors, while the third stage used a liquid propellant engine. This configuration allowed for increased payload capacity and greater flexibility in mission planning compared to the Athena I.

The rocket's primary purpose was to place satellites into orbit for a variety of applications, including communications, Earth observation, and scientific research. It competed in a market that included other small-to-medium launch vehicles.

The Athena II program was eventually discontinued. Factors contributing to its termination likely included competition from other launch providers, changing market conditions, and the overall economics of the launch industry. Its final flight was in 2001. Despite its relatively short operational lifespan, the Athena II played a role in the development of commercial space launch capabilities.