Missile & Space Programs (Atlas, Centaur, and Beyond)

Convair’s Role in Launching the United States Into the Space Age

As the Cold War intensified, Convair evolved from an aircraft manufacturer into a pioneering force in missile systems and space technology. Building on decades of engineering experience, the company helped create the rockets and boosters that carried the United States into the nuclear era and ultimately into outer space.

Convair’s missile and space programs—especially the Atlas family—became some of the most consequential technological achievements of the 20th century.

The Atlas Program — America’s First ICBM

The Atlas was the United States’ first operational intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of delivering nuclear payloads across continents. Development began in the 1950s, with Convair selected as the prime contractor due to its expertise in:

• structural engineering

• high-strength aluminum alloys

• large-scale aerospace manufacturing

• propulsion integration

Key innovations of the Atlas included:

• balloon-tank construction — extremely thin stainless-steel walls that relied on pressurization for rigidity

• stage-and-a-half design — booster engines jettisoned mid-flight while the center engine continued

• lightweight aerospace structures that maximized range and payload capacity

These breakthroughs made the Atlas one of the most advanced rockets of its era.

From Weapon to Space Launch Vehicle

The Atlas missile soon found a second life—not as a weapon, but as a launch vehicle. NASA adopted modified Atlas boosters for:

• Mercury missions (America’s first crewed spaceflights)

• orbital scientific payloads

• early reconnaissance satellites

• interplanetary probes

The Atlas launched John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, in 1962.

Convair’s engineering thus helped put the United States on equal footing in the Space Race.

The Centaur — The World’s First Liquid Hydrogen Upper Stage

Convair also played a major role in developing the Centaur, an innovative upper-stage rocket powered by:

• liquid hydrogen

• liquid oxygen

This technology represented a massive leap forward:

• extremely high efficiency

• higher payloads to orbit

• ability to send spacecraft deeper into space

Centaur stages helped launch:

• Surveyor lunar probes

• weather and communication satellites

• interplanetary missions

Centaur principles remain in use today in U.S. launch systems.

Engineering Challenges & Triumphs

Both the Atlas and Centaur programs demanded solutions that reshaped aerospace engineering:

• ultra-thin pressure-stabilized tank walls

• cryogenic fuel handling

• advanced guidance systems

• staged propulsion engineering

• structural integrity under extreme conditions

Convair engineers solved problems that no one had ever attempted before—and many of their innovations are still standard in modern rocketry.

A Key Player in the Cold War Aerospace Boom

Convair’s missile and space divisions became major components of the U.S. defense establishment. Their work supported:

• nuclear deterrence

• reconnaissance and communications satellite deployment

• planetary exploration

• early NASA space programs

This period marked Convair’s transformation from a manufacturer of airplanes into a full-spectrum aerospace company.

Legacy of the Atlas and Centaur Programs

The impact of Convair’s missile and space work is still felt today:

• Atlas rockets evolved into the Atlas V, one of the world’s most reliable launch vehicles

• Centaur remains foundational in U.S. upper-stage design

• technologies developed by Convair influence modern SpaceX, ULA, and NASA systems

• the company’s engineering culture helped shape America’s aerospace leadership

These programs represent the final, extraordinary extension of the legacy that began with Reuben H. Fleet—innovation, daring engineering, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of flight.