Atlas 5 rockets away from Florida's Space Coast

BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Posted: January 24, 2014


A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted a NASA communications satellite into orbit Thursday to expand the space agency's network of data relay spacecraft serving the International Space Station and dozens of other missions.

The 19-story rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral's Complex 41 launch pad at 9:33 p.m. EST Thursday (0233 GMT Friday) with the 3.8-ton TDRS L spacecraft. The Atlas 5's Centaur upper stage released the payload in orbit an hour and 46 minutes later.

These photos of the Atlas 5 rocket and its dramatic nighttime launch were taken by ULA photographer Ben Cooper.

See our Mission Status Center for the latest news on the mission.

Photo credit: Ben Cooper / United Launch Alliance

sfn_tdrs_cooper_001

sfn_tdrs_cooper_002

sfn_tdrs_cooper_003

sfn_tdrs_cooper_004

sfn_tdrs_cooper_005

sfn_tdrs_cooper_006

sfn_tdrs_cooper_007

sfn_tdrs_cooper_008

sfn_tdrs_cooper_009

sfn_tdrs_cooper_010

sfn_tdrs_cooper_011

sfn_tdrs_cooper_012

sfn_tdrs_cooper_013

sfn_tdrs_cooper_014

sfn_tdrs_cooper_015

sfn_tdrs_cooper_016

NEXT PHOTOS -->

Expedition 29 Patch
Space models