ULA and NASA test inflatable heat shield on Atlas launch from California

Derek Wise -
SpaceflightULAAtlas VVulcan
JPSS-2 Atlas Deployment of LOFTID inflatable heat shield test

Early November 10, ULA launched an Atlas V from Space Launch Complex 3 at Vandenberg Space Force Station. The mission carried JPSS-2 and an inflatable decelerator to prove the systems to and gather data on this unique type of heat shield.

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Launch Spotlight: SES 20 & 21 – ULA’s Atlas V set to launch two TV broadcasting satellites

Jared Locke -

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 531 is set to launch the SES 20 and 21 satellites at 5:36 p.m. EDT on October 4, 2022. These two satellites will be operated by SES of Luxembourg and provide TV broadcasting service across the continental United States.

Watch Cape Canaveral’s first two rocket launch day since Neil Armstrong’s first spaceflight

Derek Wise -
SpaceflightSpaceXFalcon 9ULAAtlas V

While Cape Canaveral is no stranger to a high launch cadence, last week the Cape saw something it hasn’t seen in decades – two launches on the same day. On the early morning of August 4, ULA launched SBIRS GEO-6, then in the evening, SpaceX launched KPLO.

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Launch Spotlight: SBIRS GEO-6 – ULA set to launch new missile detection satellite

Jared Locke -

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 421 rocket will launch the sixth Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (SBIRS GEO-6) mission for the United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command to a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. The target liftoff time is no earlier than 6:29 a.m. EDT on August 4, 2022, from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Launch Spotlight: USSF-12 ULA set to launch U.S. National Security mission aboard an Atlas V 541

Jared Locke -

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket will launch the USSF-12 mission for the United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command to a Geosynchronous Orbit. The target liftoff time is no earlier than 6 p.m. EDT on June 30, 2022, from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

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OFT-2 launch pictures: See Boeing’s Starliner launch to the ISS

Derek Wise -
SpaceflightBoeingStarlinerULAAtlas VOFT-2

Yesterday, ULA launched an Atlas V rocket from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rocket carried Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner capsule towards the International Space Station for an uncrewed test flight. Check out the Space Explored team’s picture gallery of OFT-2:

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Launch Spotlight: Starliner OFT-2 – CST-100 Starliner’s second test flight to the ISS

Jared Locke -

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V N22 rocket will launch the Boeing CST-100 Starliner capsule to the International Space Station for its second test flight. The target liftoff time is 6:54 PM EDT on May 19, 2022, from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Launch Spotlight: ULA launches a new NOAA weather satellite

Jared Locke -

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 is set to launch the GOES-T weather satellite at 4:38 p.m. EST on March 1, 2022. This NOAA satellite will replace the existing GOES-17 (West) satellite which has had issues with its Advanced Baseline Imager.

Take a look inside ULA’s Rocket Factory in the company’s latest video

Derek Wise -

In a four-minute “How It’s Made” style video, ULA takes viewers inside its Decatur, Alabama rocket factory to see where the company makes its Delta, Atlas, and Vulcan rockets.

ULA launches first-time configuration Atlas V for the US Space Force

Seth Kurkowski -
SpaceflightULASpace ForceAtlas V

Today United Launch Alliance launched its first mission of 2022, and the final unflown configuration of the Atlas V rocket. Onboard were two space surveillance satellites for the US Space Force.

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Launch Spotlight: ULA Atlas V to launch two payloads, but this Atlas is different

Jared Locke -

Friday afternoon United Launch Alliance is preparing to launch two satellites directly to geosynchronous orbit for the U.S. Space Force. The USSF-8 mission will be the only Atlas V to fly the 511 configuration and is ULA’s first flight of 2022.

Launch Date: Friday, January 21, 2:00 p.m. EST

ULA launches NASA’s Lucy spacecraft to Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids in hopes of discovering secrets of our solar system

Seth Kurkowski -
SpaceflightNASALaunchULAAtlas VLucy

NASA and United Launch Alliance launched the Lucy spacecraft in an early morning liftoff beginning its journey the Trojan asteroids.

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Launch Thread: ULA to launch NASA’s first mission to Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids

Seth Kurkowski -
SpaceflightNASALaunchULAAtlas VLucy

NASA’s Lucy mission is preparing to launch a daring mission to visit both sets of Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids. These asteroids lead and follow the gas giant in its orbit, and experts believe they will help answer how planets are formed. Read below for updates on the launch of NASA’s Lucy mission.

Date: Saturday, October 16, 5:34 a.m. EDT

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[Update: Succesful payload separation] Live Blog: NASA launching their newest Landsat satellite from the west coast

Seth Kurkowski -
SpaceflightNASAULAAtlas VLandsatUSGS

NASA will launch their Landsat 9 Earth-imaging satellite to continue the longest-running Earth-imaging satellite program, which began in the 1970s. Landsat 9 will launch on a ULA Atlas V rocket from their west coast launch facilities. The mission will replace Landsat 7, which launched back in 1999. Follow along with live updates on the Landsat 9 launch below.

Date: Monday, September 27 2:12 p.m. EDT

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Atlas V en-route to Vandenberg for Landsat-9 mission (Update: Arrived)

Derek Wise -
ULAAtlas VLandsat

Recently, an Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft believed to be carrying an Atlas V booster took off from Huntsville, Alabama on its way to Lompoc, California.

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[UPDATE: RL-10C engine use further delayed] ULA sends Boeing’s Crewed Flight Test booster to Florida ahead of the next uncrewed test

Jared Locke -
NASABoeingStarlinerULAAtlas V

United Launch Alliance loaded an Atlas V Booster and Dual Engine Centaur onto their Rocketship boat over the weekend. Its destination? Florida. This isn’t just any ordinary Atlas V though, this will be the first one to carry crew to space. The Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test (CFT) is still expected NET late 2021. However, a second Orbital Flight Test is needed.

UPDATE: ULA Begins OFT-2 Booster Stacking

UPDATE: RL-10C not to be used for upcoming Atlas missions

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Boeing’s Starliner Crewed Flight Test rocket arrives at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Jared Locke -
Commercial Crew ProgramBoeingStarlinerULAAtlas V

An Atlas V booster and Dual Engine Centaur have arrived at the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center (ASOC) after being offloaded from the Rocketship transport vessel. Spaceflight media was invited to attend the event to provide coverage. This is the third human-rated Atlas V rocket to be delivered to the Cape, with the first being stacked ahead of the Orbital Flight Test 2.

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ULA launches their first Atlas V rocket of the year for the US Space Force [Gallery]

Seth Kurkowski -
LaunchULASpace ForceAtlas VGallery

On Tuesday United Launch Alliance launch their first Atlas V rocket of the year. This mission carried with it a missile detection satellite called SBIRS GEO 5 for the United States Space Force.

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[Update: Payload separation] Next Launch: ULA plans to launch first Atlas V rocket of the year

Seth Kurkowski -
LaunchULASpace ForceAtlas V

May 18th, 2:19 PM EDT: The SBIRS GEO 5 satellite has been deployed from the Centaur upper stage.

A few weeks ago, ULA conducted their first launch for 2021 with a launch of a Delta IV Heavy for the National Reconnaissance Office. Next week, ULA plans to launch the first Atlas V rocket of the year carrying a payload for the US Space Force.

Date: Monday, May 18th, 1:37 PM EDT

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Amazon to launch its first batch of Project Kuiper satellites on ULA rockets

Seth Kurkowski -
Blue OriginULAAtlas VProject Kuiper

Amazon’s answer to SpaceX’s satellite-based Starlink internet service is called Project Kuiper, and now the company has secured flights on ULA’s Atlas V rocket. These launches will be the first of many to build out the constellation of 3,236 satellites.

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Boeing targeting March 29 for Starliner’s second uncrewed test flight

Space Explored Staff -
NASABoeingStarlinerULAAtlas V

After the failure of Starliner’s first uncrewed test flight back in December 2019, Boeing and NASA are finally ready to give it another go. The aerospace company is now targeting March 29, 2021, to launch Starliner’s second uncrewed flight.

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Dispatches from NASA: Countdown to Mars kicks off a decade of science and discovery

Zac Hall -
NASAMarsULAIngenuityMars 2020

NASA’s Perseverance rover lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on July 30, but the Countdown to Mars is really only just starting. The rover’s months-long journey to Mars will continue through February 2021, then the next decade of Martian science and astrobiological discovery can begin. In this Dispatches from NASA installment, Space Explored captures the week that the Mars 2020 mission took flight in photos and video.

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Launch Rundown: The path to NASA’s upcoming Mars 2020 Perseverance and Ingenuity mission

Seth Kurkowski -
MarsULAIngenuityMars 2020Perseverance

On the heels of the return to human space flight from American soil, NASA is launching another historic mission this year. Perseverance, the newest of NASA’s Mars rovers, plans to launch as soon as July 30, and the mission is packed full of new science experiments to learn more about the Red Planet. The new Mars rover will be launching on top of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

What makes Perseverance special? For starters, it’s the result of previous Mars missions dating back to the mid ’90s, and the state-of-the-art rover will be accompanied by the first-ever space helicopter…

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Launch Alert: ULA Atlas V completing first Space Force mission today

Zac Hall -
LaunchULASpace ForceAtlas V

Thursday, March 26, 2020 is launch day at Space Launch Complex-41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. United Launch Alliance is completing the Sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency, or AEHF-6, mission for the United States Space Force.

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