Launch Had Been Delayed After Fuel Leak

An Atlas IIAS rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center Tuesday night, successfully carrying a national security payload into orbit.

The mission, called AC-167, was provided for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) by International Launch Services (ILS), using a Lockheed Martin-built Atlas vehicle. Liftoff was at 7:17 p.m. Tuesday EDT (23:17 GMT) from Cape Canaveral's Pad 36A, with payload separation into transfer orbit 73 minutes later.

Tuesday night's flight was the eighth mission of the year for ILS, as well as the fifth Atlas launch. It also was the 73rd consecutive successful flight for the Atlas family in any launch configuration. This also marks the 30th and final flight for an Atlas IIAS model and the 63rd flight and final flight of any Atlas II version. In addition, this was the final flight after 47 years of the Rocketdyne MA-5A engine, which powered the Atlas II booster.

The flight was originally scheduled for Monday, but was scrubbed after 11,000 gallons of liquid oxygen mysteriously leaked from the fuel tanks.

"Looks like we're going to be a couple of thousand gallons short," Lockheed launch director Adrian Laffitte reported. The LOX evaporates on contact with the ground and posed no lasting danger to the vehicle.

The tanks were refilled and the launch went off without a hitch Tuesday night.

"The Atlas family has launched government payloads for more than 40 years," said ILS President Mark Albrecht. "We're always proud to have a role in assisting in the security of our nation."

Albrecht also pointed out the perfect record of not only the Atlas IIAS vehicles, but of the entire Atlas II line, which began flying in December 1991. "This is an awesome accomplishment, being the only US expendable launch vehicle series to have had 100 percent success throughout its entire lifespan," he said. "The Atlas team is an incredible group of people who make Mission Success for our customers a way of life."

This is the second ILS launch this month, following the Aug. 5 successful flight of a Proton Breeze M vehicle, with the Amazonas satellite for Hispasat of Spain and Hispamar of Brazil.

FMI: www.ilslaunch.com