SBIRS

Live coverage: Atlas 5 countdown and launch journal

January 17, 2017 Justin Ray

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral today at 7:42 p.m. EST (0042 GMT) to deploy the U.S. military’s SBIRS GEO Flight 3 observatory, equipped with advanced telescopic infrared vision to spot enemy missile launches, for early warning surveillance.

Timeline: Atlas 5/SBIRS GEO Flight 3 ascent events

January 17, 2017 Justin Ray

This is the launch timeline to be followed by the Atlas 5 rocket’s ascent into orbit from Cape Canaveral with the SBIRS GEO Flight 3 satellite for U.S. military infrared reconnaissance. Launch is scheduled for Thursday at 7:46 p.m. EST (0046 GMT).

Preview: Advanced missile detection satellite for early-warning alerts awaits liftoff

January 16, 2017 Justin Ray

Culminating years of construction and testing, a $1.2 billion satellite designed to spot and track enemy missiles threatening the United States homeland, its deployed military forces abroad or allied nations will ascend to a surveillance post in space Thursday.

Live coverage: Atlas 5 countdown and launch journal

Timeline: Atlas 5/SBIRS GEO Flight 3 ascent events

Preview: Advanced missile detection satellite for early-warning alerts awaits liftoff

Weather forecast now 80 percent ‘go’ for Thursday’s Atlas 5 rocket launch

Atlas 5 and Delta 4 achieve milestones in parallel on the same morning

Fastest ever stacking of Atlas 5 underway for next national security launch