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Best of Atlas Negative Images

About this Collection

The Atlas Negative collection documents the history of the Atlas missile, both in its initial role as the nation’s first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), and in its later highly successful role as a space launch vehicle. This collection is a one-of-a-kind national treasure. The Atlas was designed, developed, tested and manufactured in San Diego for the Air Force by the General Dynamics Corporation. More than 500 Atlas ICBM and space launch vehicles were built in San Diego. Atlas provided an effective Cold War deterrent in its role as America’s first ICBM. The Atlas also served later as a reliable and powerful space launch vehicle for sending America’s first astronauts into Earth orbit. In March 2015, the Museum’s Library & Archives received a two-year National Historical Publications and Records grant from the National Archives and Records Administration to digitize and catalog thousands of the Museum’s Atlas missile and space launch system images. This project is now nearing completion. More than ten volunteers assisted in this effort. To date, over 125,000 images have been cataloged, of which 42,000 have been digitized and placed on Flickr. The Best of the Atlas Negative collection includes some of our favorite images discovered during the project. View this collection on the contributor's website.

View our statement on digital primary resources and historical description.

Type of Item

1,117 items found in this collection

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