Lift and mate – Page 3 – Spaceflight Now

Atlas 5 rocket gains approval to launch again after issue on last flight diagnosed

June 16, 2016 Justin Ray

United Launch Alliance has granted “flight clearance” for its workhorse Atlas 5 rocket to resume satellite deployments after linking an errant valve with the fuel usage crunch on its most recent mission and tweaking subsequent vehicles.

Photos: Navy satellite encapsulated, mated to Atlas 5

June 15, 2016 Justin Ray

The U.S. Navy’s Mobile User Objective System communications satellite No. 5 was encapsulated in the payload fairing at Astrotech on June 4 and then hoisted atop the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket at Complex 41 on June 13.

Video: NROL-37 payload and Delta 4-Heavy rocket prepped for launch

June 10, 2016 Justin Ray

Narrated video packages show the shrouded NROL-37 payload being hoisted atop the United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket and the retraction of the mobile service gantry.

Photos and video: Payload mated to Delta 4-Heavy rocket for upcoming launch

May 24, 2016 Justin Ray

Shielded from view within the protective rocket nose cone, a covert surveillance satellite has been mounted atop a Delta 4-Heavy rocket for launch June 4.

Atlas 5 rocket and Cygnus freighter mated for next week’s cargo launch

March 14, 2016 Justin Ray

Bound for the International Space Station with a max load of fresh supplies, a commercially-operated cargo ship was mounted atop its booster rocket today for liftoff from Cape Canaveral on March 22.

GPS satellite moves to Atlas 5 facility for launch next Friday

January 30, 2016 Justin Ray

After a quarter-century readying Global Positioning System satellites for launch at a Cape Canaveral Air Force Station processing hub, the final bird rolled out Saturday as the navigation program transitions to a new era.

Photos: GPS 2F-11 readied for launch

October 29, 2015 Justin Ray

This collection of photographs shows the Air Force’s Global Positioning System 2F-11 navigation satellite being encapsulated in the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 nose cone and hoisted atop the rocket for flight.

Atlas 5 receives payload for third launch this month

October 22, 2015 Justin Ray

Heading to space next week to replace a 12-year-old satellite in the Global Positioning System navigation network, a modernized spacecraft was placed atop its Atlas 5 launcher Wednesday.

Photos: Assembling Atlas 5 rocket to launch Mexican satellite

September 30, 2015 Justin Ray

Relive all of the steps to stack the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket at Cape Canaveral’s Vertical Integration Facility for the Morelos 3 satellite deployment mission.

Mexican communications satellite put aboard Atlas 5 rocket for launch

September 25, 2015 Justin Ray

A 12,000-pound Mexican mobile communications satellite was hoisted atop its Atlas 5 rocket today as crews finished assembling the vehicle for United Launch Alliance’s 100th liftoff next week.