ULA Boosted The Spacecraft Aboard An Atlas V Rocket

The latest satellite launch for the U.S. Air Force lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 Jan. 20 at 7:42 p.m. ET. The Atlas V booster carried the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) GEO Flight 3 satellite, considered one of the nation’s highest priority space programs.

This mission was launched aboard an Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) 401 configuration vehicle, which includes a 4-meter diameter large payload fairing (LPF). The Atlas V booster propulsion for this mission was powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine, and the Centaur upper stage was powered by the Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C engine.

The Space Based Infrared System is designed to provide global, persistent, infrared surveillance capabilities to meet 21st century demands in four national security mission areas: missile warning, missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness.

This is ULA’s first launch of 11 planned launches in 2017 and the 116th successful launch since the company was formed in December 2006.

ULA's next East Coast launch is the Delta IV WGS-9 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. The launch is scheduled for March 8 from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

(Source: ULA news release. Image from Facebook)

FMI: www.ulalaunch.com