centaurbooster

These are models of the two variants of Shuttle Centaur. On the right is Centaur G-prime, to be used for civilian (NASA) interplanetary probes launched from KSC, Florida. On the left is Centaur G, to be used for military (USAF) polar spy satellites to be launched from Vandenberg AFB, California, and GEO satellites to be launched from KSC. The Challenger disaster ended the Shuttle Centaur program: Centaur G-prime flight articles were built but never flew, and the launch complex at Vandenberg AFB was built but never used. N.B.: The Centaur G-prime model (right) is shown with its payload, an interplanetary probe (probably Galileo), whereas the Centaur G model (left) does not include a model of its payload, which would have been classified information.

Here's a link to a great article about Shuttle-Centaur: www.cleveland.com/science/index.ssf/2011/12/long-forgotte...

Concept art of Atlas-Centaur launching Lunar Surveyor.

Unfortunately, the Douglas C-133B Cargomaster this Centaur stage is being loaded on to (USAF Ser. No. 59-0523) would crash with the loss of all nine souls aboard just short of Travis Air Force Base during a failed practice instrument approach to the base on April 10, 1963. See: aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19630410-0 and www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/C-133b_crash_site.htm