Tag: Atlas V
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With a landmark launch, the Pentagon is finally free of Russian rocket engines
United Launch Alliance delivered a classified US military payload to orbit Tuesday for the last time with an Atlas V rocket, ending the Pentagon’s use of Russian rocket engines as national security missions transition to all-American launchers. The Atlas V rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 6:45 am EDT…
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Launch Roundup: Atlas V, Electron, CZ-3B/E, and Falcon 9 missions flying this week
As July turns into August, launch activity will pick up after Falcon 9’s return to flight. Besides the Falcon 9, ULA’s Atlas V and Rocket Lab’s Electron were also being prepared to fly missions to orbit. The USSF-51 flight from Florida was followed by a Chang Zheng-3B/E from China and the Starlink 10-6 flight. CRS…
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Atlas V successfully launched its last ever national security mission
United Launch Alliance, formed in 2006 to merge the Boeing and Lockheed Martin launch vehicle programs, has flown 100 national security missions over the last 18 years using the Delta II, Delta IV, and Atlas V rocket families. USSF-51 was ULA’s 100th national security launch, and the last ever flown by an Atlas-family rocket. An…
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Boeing’s Starliner finally soars, but mission control reports more helium leaks
After years of delays, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft finally rocketed into orbit from Florida on Wednesday, sending two veteran NASA astronauts on a long-delayed shakedown cruise to the International Space Station. The Starliner capsule lifted off at 10:52 am EDT (14:52 UTC) on top of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Fifteen minutes later, after…
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Countdown begins for third try launching Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule
Fresh off repairs at the launch pad in Florida, United Launch Alliance engineers restarted the countdown overnight for the third attempt to send an Atlas V rocket and Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on a test flight to the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were expected to awake early Wednesday, put on…
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Boeing’s Starliner CFT launches on third attempt
After years of anticipation, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner capsule has flown its first crew into space on the 100th flight of an Atlas V launch vehicle. Capping off Starliner’s test campaign, the Crew Flight Test (CFT) has sent Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams on a trajectory to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) where they…
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Boeing’s Starliner test flight scrubbed again after hold in final countdown
A computer controlling the Atlas V rocket’s countdown triggered an automatic hold less than four minutes prior to liftoff of Boeing’s commercial Starliner spacecraft Saturday, keeping the crew test flight on the ground at least a few more days. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were already aboard the spacecraft when the countdown stopped…
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Boeing’s Starliner capsule poised for second try at first astronaut flight
NASA and Boeing officials are ready for a second attempt to launch the first crew test flight on the Starliner spacecraft Saturday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Liftoff of Boeing’s Starliner, capsuled atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, is set for 12:25 pm EDT (16:25 UTC). NASA commander Butch Wilmore and…
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NASA finds more issues with Boeing’s Starliner, but crew launch set for June 1
Senior managers from NASA and Boeing told reporters on Friday that they plan to launch the first crew test flight of the Starliner spacecraft as soon as June 1, following several weeks of detailed analysis of a helium leak and a “design vulnerability” with the ship’s propulsion system. Extensive data reviews over the last two-and-a-half…
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The first crew launch of Boeing’s Starliner capsule remains on hold
The first crewed test flight of Boeing’s long-delayed Starliner spacecraft won’t take off as planned Saturday and could face a longer postponement as engineers evaluate a stubborn leak of helium from the capsule’s propulsion system. NASA announced the latest delay of the Starliner test flight late Tuesday. Officials will take more time to consider their…