Athena I

The Athena I, originally designated the Lockheed Launch Vehicle (LLV) and later the Lockheed Martin Launch Vehicle (LMLV), was an American small expendable launch system flown four times between 1995 and 2001. It is part of the Athena family, which also includes the larger Athena II.

The rocket used solid first and second stages—a Castor 120 first stage and an Orbus 21D second stage—and a monopropellant hydrazine-fueled third stage called the Orbital Adjustment Module, propelled by four MR-107 engines. Launches occurred from Vandenberg Air Force Base's Space Launch Complex 6, Spaceport Florida's Launch Complex 46, and Pad 1 of the Kodiak Launch Complex. The maiden flight on 15 August 1995 failed due to a thrust vectoring system malfunction, but the three subsequent launches were successful.