Family-level launch record combining canonical variants, historical missions, public cadence forecasts, and available payload performance specs.
Historical missions are grouped by actual launch year. Forecast cadence uses family-level launch-rate rows.
| Year | Historical missions | Forecast launches |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 3 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 | 0 |
Payload capacity by variant and target orbit when structured capacity rows are available.
| Variant | Orbit | Capacity | Altitude | Inclination | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No performance specsNo structured payload capacity rows are linked to this vehicle family. | |||||
Latest launched missions using variants in this family.
| Mission | Variant | Launch |
|---|---|---|
| Kodiak Star | Athena-1 | Sep 30, 2001 |
| Ikonos-2 | Athena-2 | Sep 24, 1999 |
| Launch 1999-F01 | Athena-2 | Apr 27, 1999 |
| ROCSAT |
Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.
| Variant | Stages | Missions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Athena-1 | Not stated | 2 | Retired |
Athena-2 | Not stated | 3 | Retired |
LMLV-1 | Not stated | 1 | Retired |
Athena-1 |
| Jan 27, 1999 |
| Lunar Prospector Mission | Athena-2 | Jan 7, 1998 |
| Lewis Mission | LMLV-1 | Aug 23, 1997 |
Upcoming mission rows with announced launch timing.
| Mission | Variant | Announced |
|---|---|---|
No forecasted missionsNo upcoming announced mission rows are linked to this vehicle family. | ||
Thales Alenia Space has contributed to the Sicral 2 and Athena-Fidus defense telecommunications programs.
Project Athena calls for reducing bureaucratic layers, increasing mission cadence, and extracting commercial value from space-based research.
Ienai Space and Fossa Systems are preparing a mission for late 2026 to test the Athena NANO electrospray thruster for nanosatellites.
In 2020, a Russian satellite maneuvered close enough to the Franco-Italian military communications spacecraft Athena-Fidus that France’s Space Command treated the incident as orbital intimidation.
Athena™ Nano will enable maneuverability of the Fossa Systems 6U platform in orbit.
The 6U nanosatellite platform from Fossa Systems will incorporate an Athena™ Nano module.
Athena™ Nano is an adaptable electrospray thruster (Adaptable Thruster based on Electrospray powered by Nanotechnology) for nanosatellites.
Athena™ Nano is a low-power, high-compactness electric propulsion system based on electrospray technology fully developed in Spain.
Project Athena proposes consolidating mission control operations at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Project Athena outlines a restructuring plan for NASA, suggesting several legacy programs be accelerated, fixed, or deleted.
Project Athena proposes to terminate the Space Launch System after two or three missions.
Project Athena categorizes NASA programs into three categories: accelerate, fix, or delete.
The Space Launch System is proposed to terminate after Artemis III and potentially Artemis IV under Project Athena.
Project Athena proposes consolidating mission control operations at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The lunar Gateway space station is proposed to be canceled entirely under Project Athena.
Project Athena calls for the development of Nuclear Electric Propulsion for crewed Mars exploration.
Project Athena specifies the termination of NASA's Artemis lunar exploration program and the Space Launch System.
Project Athena includes a reorganization of NASA to assess the relevance and ongoing necessity of its field centers like Goddard and Kennedy Space Centers.
The White House renominated Jared Isaacman for the NASA Administrator position following a report by Politico on Project Athena.
Isaacman faced scrutiny from Democrats regarding his draft plan, Project Athena, which proposed cuts to Earth science programs.