Right. It (the Atlas) has “evolved” since I built a model of it back in 1966....
By the way, it’s based on technology older than Mercury, the B-52, and V-2 (er, Army Jupiter) missile.
You’d think NASA could have developed something newer since a 1958-1960 ICBM first flew. Now, I’ll contrast that with what our engineers and NASA’s EREAL engineers developed in the 1960’s when they were really “rocket scientists” .... and all that implied.
The Atlas really shows more that the US government hasn’t thought of anything new/bought anything new in the last 50 years.
You're being silly.
Comparing the Atlas V of today to that of 1950 is like comparing a modern Ford F150 pickup to a 1950 Ford F150 pickup.
The name is the same, but that's about all that's the same.
It has Russian RD-180 engines being used in them since about 2002.
There’s not really anything left of the old Atlas in an Atlas V except the name “Atlas”. The Atlas 2 was the last of the family to retain elements of the original Atlas. The Atlas III went to the Russian RD-180 engines, and from that point on it’s pretty much just been a name.
The newer Atlases go something like this:
Atlas I—developed from the Atlas G, incorporating improvements from other “classic” Atlases and some improvements of its own.
Atlas II—Uprated MA-5 engine (MA-5A), stretched tanks. Old vernier engines replaced with new hydrazine models.
Atlas III-practically clean sheet design around RD-180s. Still uses balloon tanks, last vestige of classic Atlas in it. This model didn’t really draw any customers.
Atlas IV-there is no Atlas IV. Maybe there was one on paper at one point, but only the III and V saw daylight.
Atlas V-RD-180s with new tanks in a clusterable design. Nothing really left of the old Atlas but the nameplate.