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 Spaceflight Now + Premium video content for our Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers. 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)  Play video 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)  Play video 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)  Play video 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)  Play video Become a subscriber More video NewsAlert Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop. Enter your e-mail address: Privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose.		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.