Video: X-37B payload mated to Atlas 5

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket fitted with five powerful solid-fueled boosters has lifted off from a seaside launch complex at Cape Canaveral with the U.S. Navy’s third Mobile User Objective System communications satellite.

United Launch Alliance chief executive Tory Bruno spoke with Spaceflight Now’s Stephen Clark at the 32nd Space Symposium in Colorado Springs.

Leading all other nations, U.S. launch providers flew 44 missions in 2020 that aimed to place payloads in Earth orbit or deep space, with 40 successes. China followed with 35 successful orbital missions in 39 launch attempts.