X-11 Atlas-A

Specifications

Company- Convair Astronautics Division
Type- Single stage ballistic missile that served as a testbed for the Atlas XB-65 missile.
Goals- Provide flight data for Atlas missile
Primary Testing Facility Research- Cape Canaveral
Dimensions- Span- 12 ft; Length- 96 ft
Max Speed- Mach 10.0+
Range- 609 miles
Max Altitude- 40 miles
Power Plant- North American XLR43-NA-5
Thrust- N/A
Weights- Empty: 12,500 lbs; Fully Loaded: 80,000 lbs
Payload- N/A
Flights- 8
Number of Prototypes Built- 12
Project Tenure- 1956-1958
Project Status- Cancelled

Information

The Convair X-11 (originally designated the Convair XSM-16A) was the first testbed for what became the Atlas missile program. Later the Convair X-12 became the second, more advanced testbed for the Atlas program.

A total of 12 X-11's were built and tested. The first three were involved in static tests only. X-11 Number 4 and 6, were destroyed in launch accidents. All others performed successful test flights. The test series began on June 11, 1957 and ended on June 3, 1958.

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