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The Mission



Rocket: Ariane 5G
Payload: Helios 2A
Date: December 18, 2004
Window: 1626 GMT (11:26 a.m. EST)
Site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana




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Launch of Atlas 5
The Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 rocket launches at 7:07 a.m. EST from Cape Canaveral carrying the AMERICOM 16 communications spacecraft. (6min 22sec file)
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Press site view
The sunrise launch of Atlas 5 is shown in this view from the Kennedy Space Center press site at Complex 39. (QuickTime file)
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Rocket rollout
Riding on its mobile launching platform, the Atlas 5 rocket is rolled from its assembly building to the launch pad at Complex 41 just hours before the scheduled liftoff time carrying AMC 16. (4min 41sec file)
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Atlas 5 news briefing
Mission officials hold the pre-launch news conference in Cape Canaveral on Thursday, Dec. 16 to preview the flight of Atlas 5 with AMC 16. (40min 41sec file)
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BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Follow the preparations and launch of the Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket carrying the Helios 2A reconnaissance spacecraft. Reload this page for the latest on the mission.