United Launch Alliance

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.

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

January 15, 2017 Justin Ray

Meteorologists are anticipating favorable odds of good weather during the countdown to launch an Atlas 5 rocket and U.S. military satellite on Thursday evening from Cape Canaveral.

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

January 12, 2017 Justin Ray

Critical operations were completed this morning by United Launch Alliance at Cape Canaveral to prepare two rockets for upcoming flights into space.

Multi-national contribution to U.S. military network delivered for launch

January 11, 2017 Justin Ray

The next satellite for the U.S. military’s communications network, this one purchased by five international allies, has arrived in Florida for its launch in March atop a Delta 4 rocket.

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

January 5, 2017 Justin Ray

Just two weeks before it flies to space, the core stage of the next Atlas 5 rocket was erected aboard the mobile launcher platform this morning by United Launch Alliance technicians to kick off a streamlined vehicle assembly that will break a record.

Photos: Final batch of EchoStar 19 launch shots

December 20, 2016 Justin Ray

With a 2-to-1 thrust-to-weight ratio, the million-pound United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket unleashed two-million pounds of ground-shaking thrust to power away from its seaside launch complex at 2:13 p.m. EST (1913 GMT) Sunday with the EchoStar 19 satellite.