September 29, 2026
Spaceflight Now
  • Home
  • News Archive
  • Launch Schedule
  • Mission Reports
    • Antares Launcher
    • Ariane 5
    • Atlas 5
    • Delta 4
    • Falcon 9
    • Falcon Heavy
    • H-2A
    • Soyuz
    • Space Station
  • Members
    • Sign in
    • Become a member
    • Members Content
  • Live
  • Shop
  • Donate
Breaking News
  • [ September 29, 2026 ] NASA plans unpiloted Starliner test flight at end of year News
  • [ September 28, 2026 ] Starship returns to Earth; rocket splashes down north of Hawaii after three-hour flight Mission Reports
  • [ September 28, 2026 ] Launch preview: SpaceX to launch first Starlink V3 satellites to orbit on Starship Mission Reports
  • [ September 26, 2026 ] Next crew bound for the space station arrive in Florida Mission Reports
  • [ September 25, 2026 ] SpaceX Falcon 9 launches classified mission for U.S. Space Force from West Coast Falcon 9

Video: Missile alert satellite launches atop Atlas 5

January 21, 2017 Justin Ray

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, standing 189 feet tall and and weighing 720,000 pounds, unleashes 860,000 pounds of thrust from its main engine to launch the SBIRS GEO Flight 3 early-warning satellite from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Launch preparations

See earlier SBIRS GEO Flight 3 coverage.

Our Atlas archive.

  • Air Force
  • Atlas 5
  • AV-066
  • Launch
  • Lockheed Martin
  • SBIRS
  • SBIRS GEO Flight 3
  • United Launch Alliance

Related Articles

Falcon 9

Broadband satellite to serve Pacific islands delivered to Florida launch base

November 15, 2019 Stephen Clark

A powerful commercial communications satellite to broadcast Internet signals over the Asia-Pacific region has arrived at Cape Canaveral for final launch preparations ahead of a planned Dec. 15 liftoff on top of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Mission Reports

Russia’s Angara A5 rocket successful in second test flight

December 14, 2020 Stephen Clark

Six years after launching for the first time, a Russian Angara A5 heavy-lift rocket took off on its second test flight Monday and successfully delivered a dummy payload into orbit.

Atlas 5

Live coverage: Atlas 5 launches with missile warning satellite for U.S. military

May 17, 2021 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance launched the U.S. military’s SBIRS GEO 5 early warning satellite into orbit aboard an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. A launch attempt Monday was scrubbed during fueling preps due to a faulty temperature sensor. Liftoff of ULA’s workhorse rocket, fitted with two strap-on solid-fueled boosters, occurred at 1:37 p.m. EDT (1737 GMT).

News Headlines

  • NASA plans unpiloted Starliner test flight at end of year
    September 29, 2026
  • Starship returns to Earth; rocket splashes down north of Hawaii after three-hour flight
    September 28, 2026
  • Launch preview: SpaceX to launch first Starlink V3 satellites to orbit on Starship
    September 28, 2026
  • Next crew bound for the space station arrive in Florida
    September 26, 2026
  • SpaceX Falcon 9 launches classified mission for U.S. Space Force from West Coast
    September 25, 2026
  • NASA announces new space telescope ‘PRIMA’ to launch in 2033
    September 24, 2026
  • SpaceX stack Starship and Super Heavy for first orbital flight
    September 23, 2026
  • SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster arrives at pad ahead of first orbital Starship launch
    September 21, 2026
  • Russian Progress cargo ship arrives at International Space Station
    September 19, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
    September 19, 2026
  • Home
  • News Archive
  • Launch Schedule
  • Mission Reports
    • Antares Launcher
    • Ariane 5
    • Atlas 5
    • Delta 4
    • Falcon 9
    • Falcon Heavy
    • H-2A
    • Soyuz
    • Space Station
  • Members
    • Sign in
    • Become a member
    • Members Content
  • Live
  • Shop
  • Donate

© 1999-2026 Spaceflight Now Inc