Original: Atlas , named for the Atlas of Greek mythology and the contractor 's parent Atlas Corporation , got its start in 1946 with the award of an Army Air Forces research contract to Consolidated Vultee Aircraft ( later Convair ) for the study of a 1,500 to 5,000 mi .
Simplified: Atlas , named for the Atlas of Greek mythology , got its start in 1946 with the award of an Army Air Forces research contract to Convair for the study of a 1,500 to 5,000 mi .