Q&A with Steve Skladanek, president of Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, standing 206 feet tall and and weighing 1.3 million pounds, unleashes two-and-a-half million pounds of thrust from its main engine and five solid-fuel boosters to launch the Navy’s MUOS 5 satellite from Cape Canaveral.

The International Space Station crew releases the Cygnus OA-7 commercial cargo ship from the Canadian robotic arm to begin free-flight away from the lab complex, completing 43-day visit that delivered supplies, food and science gear.

Returning to the days of rollouts and launches in a span of only a few hours, the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 program is looking to resume this whirlwind experience.