Atlas 5 rocket launches

SpacefligthNow.com ^ | 5/13/2003 | Justin Ray

[Rockitz]

Lockheed Martin's second Atlas 5 rocket has lifted off on a mission to place the Greek Hellas Sat communications spacecraft into orbit. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 6:10 p.m. EDT (2210 GMT). Follow its climb to orbit in our Mission Status Center.

[Rockitz]

Congratulations to the Lockheed Martin team. The Centaur is not done yet, but the boost phase and Centaur first burn appear to be nominal.

[Rockitz]

Centaur is done. Payload deployment soon.

[July 4th]

T+plus 31 minutes, 11 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The Greek Hellas Sat television, Internet and multimedia broadcast satellite has been released into Earth orbit from the Centaur!

Good job, Atlas.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

It was a nice launch, saw it from my front door!

[GoLightly]

http://streamvox.streamos.com/gems/ils/051203/

[RightWhale]

Wow, you get to see it live! That is the hottest rocket on earth.

[July 4th]

I wonder what the reason is that the Greeks didn't use Ariane for the launch. Probably a simple, non-political answer, but it would be interesting to know. This successful launch is really helping the credibility of Atlas.

[Blueflag]

"11 December 2002 Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5 EC-A. The Ariane 5 core's Vulcain-2 engine begain failing at T+178 seconds. The rocket veered off course and the destruct signal was sent."

http://www.astronautix.com/articles/thelures.htm

[So Cal Rocket]

Where are the Atlas's first stage engines made?

[JimSEA]

I was flying to LA last fall when they launched from Vandenburg. I have never seen anything like it before. It was grand!

[Blueflag]

Pretty sure Aerojet makes 'em. Not sure where.

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/atlas5_srb_021031.html

[Blueflag]

HEre's an update on the launch/mission

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/launches/next_launch.html

[Blueflag]

Perhaps a correction on the first stage info--

"Built by Lockheed Martin and marketed by International Launch Services, model 401 of the Atlas 5 features a Russian RD-180 main engine in its first stage and a single RL-10 engine in the Centaur upper stage. It stands about 190 feet (58 meters) tall and can carry 10,900 pounds (4,950 kilograms) into geostationary transfer orbit. This Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle weighs 743,800 pounds (337,385 kilograms) at liftoff."

http://www.ilslaunch.com/atlas/atlasv/AtlasV400/

[So Cal Rocket]

Those are the Solid Rocket Motors... I was referring to the first stage (liquid rocket) engines.

[Blueflag]

I saw that after I re-read your post. See my #13.

we regret the error. ;- )

[NonValueAdded]

Yes, I saw it from the beach (Indian Harbour Beach to be exact). It looked rather small from about 30 miles away but when the sound reached us just about the time it went out of visual range, it was pretty loud. Very nice launch.

[blam]

"Pretty sure Aerojet makes 'em. Not sure where."

Aerojet sold out to Northrup-Grumman, my son works at the Azusa site.

[blam]

"Yes, I saw it from the beach (Indian Harbour Beach to be exact)"

I used to live in Satellite Beach and Indialantic. (Small world)

[Ben Hecks]

I think the liquid rocket engines are from Russia - the strap on solid rocket boosters are made in the US by Thiokol.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Isn't the Atlas 5 the same engine used to boost the Apollo missions?