Atlas E/F
The Atlas E/F, also designated SB-1A was an American expendable launch system and sounding rocket built using parts of decommissioned SM-65 Atlas missiles. It was a member of the Atlas family of rockets.
The first stage was built using parts taken from decommissioned Atlas-E and Atlas-F missiles, with various solid propellant upper stages used, depending on the requirements of the payload. The Atlas E/F was also used without an upper stage for a series of re-entry vehicle tests. On a single launch, an RM-81 Agena liquid-propellant upper stage was used.
Variants
Atlas E/F
Thirty Atlas E/F rockets were launched without upper stages for ABRES and BMRS re-entry vehicle tests between 1965 and 1974. Three of these launches failed. Five ABRES launches were also conducted whilst the missiles were still operational, however these did not use the Atlas E/F configuration.
Atlas E/F-Agena
An RM-81 Agena upper stage was used on a former Atlas-F, to launch the Seasat-1 satellite on 27 June 1978. This was the final flight of the Atlas-Agena. Previous Atlas-Agena launches had used Atlas D or Atlas SLV-3 rockets as first stages.
The final Atlas - Agena was used on Atlas E/F.