Atlas
The First
Weapon Specifications
Note that the relationship between explosive power and destruction is not linear—a weapon’s destructive effects grow far more slowly than its explosive power.
Explosive Power
Up to 3.75 megatons
Hiroshima Equivalent Factor
250x
Dimensions
85 ft., 6 inches x 10 ft.
Weight
260,000 lbs.
Range
9000 miles
Year(s)
1959–1965
Purpose
The first U.S. ICBM
DESTRUCTION MAP
NUKEMAP is a web-based mapping program that attempts to give the user a sense of the destructive power of nuclear weapons. It was created by Alex Wellerstein, a historian specializing in nuclear weapons (see his book on nuclear secrecy and his blog on nuclear weapons). The screenshot below shows the NUKEMAP output for this particular weapon. Click on the map to customize settings.
CURATED VIDEOS
INTERESTING LINKS
•. Wikipedia, Designation Systems
•. The San Diego Air and Space Museum has a mini-site on the Atlas.
• Additional links coming soon!
Videos
These curated videos provide additional context for this weapon — showing test footage, deployment scenes, technical explanations, interviews, or other historical material, allowing viewers to go deeper into the weapon’s design, use, and place in nuclear history.