Atlas 5 – Spaceflight Now

April 24, 2025

Breaking News

[ April 23, 2025 ] Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Falcon 9
[ April 21, 2025 ] SpaceX’s rideshare Bandwagon-3 mission marks the 300th orbital flight from Cape Canaveral’s pad 40 Falcon 9
[ April 20, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 32nd resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station Falcon 9
[ April 19, 2025 ] SpaceX launches third NRO mission in eight days Falcon 9
[ April 16, 2025 ] Northrop Grumman launches first Minotaur 4 rocket from Vandenberg in 14 years Minotaur 4

Poor weather forces a scrub of the Kuiper 1 launch on a ULA Atlas 5

April 9, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will be the first deployment of full production Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit. ULA is determining their next launch opportunity following the scrub Wednesday evening.

Amazon targets April 9 for launch of 1st production satellites for its Project Kuiper internet mega-constellation

April 3, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will send the first full batch of 27 operational satellites into low Earth orbit. United Launch Alliance will launch its Atlas 5 551 rocket from pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on April 9 during a three-hour window that opens at 12 p.m. EDT (1600 UTC).

ULA begins de-stacking Vulcan rocket, pivots to Atlas 5 launch of Amazon’s Kuiper satellites for first 2025 mission

February 7, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The change in manifest comes as the U.S. Space Force’s Assured Access to Space continues the certification process for the Vulcan rocket. United Launch Alliance will begin stacking an Atlas rocket in the coming weeks.

ULA launches Atlas 5 rocket on the company’s 100th national security mission

July 29, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The United States Space Force 51 (USSF-51) mission was the 58th and final time an Atlas 5 rocket launches a national security payload. Liftoff happened at Tuesday, July 30, during a three-hour window that opens at 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 UTC).

ULA prepares for final Atlas 5 launch supporting a national security payload

July 27, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will mark the 100th national security flight for United Launch Alliance and the 101st Atlas 5 rocket launch. Liftoff is targeting Tuesday, July 30, during a three-hour window that opens at 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 UTC).

Third time’s the charm for the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test

June 5, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch of two NASA astronauts dealt with two previous scrubs due to a valve issue on the Atlas 5 rocket and then a ground system issue at the launchpad. Liftoff happened at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 UTC) on Wednesday, June 5.

NASA foregoes Sunday launch, delaying Starliner takeoff to at least Wednesday

June 1, 2024 William Harwood

The seemingly star-cross Boeing Starliner — within minutes of its long-delayed blastoff on the spacecraft’s first piloted test flight — was grounded again Saturday when one of three redundant computers managing the countdown from the base of the launch pad ran into a problem, triggering a last-minute scrub.

NASA says Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule can safely fly ‘as is’ with propulsion system helium leak

May 24, 2024 William Harwood

After nearly three weeks of exhaustive tests and data analysis, NASA managers said Friday they are confident Boeing’s oft-delayed Starliner crew capsule can safely launch “as is” June 1, saying a small helium leak in the ship’s propulsion system does not pose a flight safety concern.

NASA, Boeing and ULA announce June 1 as new target date for Starliner’s Crew Flight Test

May 23, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The latest launch date was announced late Wednesday evening, following a Tuesday night notice that May 25 was off the table. Liftoff of the Atlas 5 rocket on June 1 is set for 12:25 p.m. EDT (1625 UTC).

Boeing Starliner launch Saturday ruled out as helium leak analysis continues

May 22, 2024 William Harwood

Plans to launch Boeing’s oft-delayed Starliner spacecraft on its first crewed test flight Saturday were put on hold Tuesday night to give managers more time to evaluate a small helium leak in the ship’s propulsion system. A new launch target was not announced.