Atlas rocket launches for 1st time since March grounding

America’s Atlas rockets are flying again, launching a communications satellite for the Navy. The launch was live-streamed, and you can rewatch the spectacular blast off in the video above.

A powerful United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted a sophisticated Navy communications satellite into orbit Friday, the fifth and final member of a $7.7 billion constellation created to provide 3G-class cellular capabilities to troops around the world. MUOS-5 is the final satellite in the five-satellite constellation, which provides warfighters with significantly improved and assured communications worldwide. The launch window opens at 10:30 a.m. and closes 11:14 a.m. Coverage of the launch begins at 10:10 ET, with the launch itself scheduled for 10:30. The Atlas booster for this mission was powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine and the Centaur upper stage was powered by the Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C-1 engine.

The second-stage engine completed the first of three planned “burns” about 12-and-a-half minutes after liftoff, putting the vehicle into a preliminary orbit. Five solid rocket boosters surround the base of the vehicle, helping to provide more than 2.5 million pounds of thrust at take off.

ULA says it has fixed a valve problem that restricted fuel flow on that March 22 flight, leaving a significant amount unused. Users with operational MUOS terminals can seamlessly connect beyond line-of-sight around the world and into the Global Information Grid. “Congratulations to our navy, air force and Lockheed Martin mission partners on yet another successful launch that provides our warfighters with enhanced communications capabilities to safely and effectively conduct their missions around the globe”.

After Friday’s launch, the next Atlas V flight will loft a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

The Naval Spacecraft Operations Control facility here is talking with the fifth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS-5) satellite in space after its successful launch this morning. Leahy’s diverse career has included work for The Walt Disney Company, NASA, the Department of Defense, Nissan, a number of commercial space companies, small businesses, nonprofits, as well as the Science Cheerleaders.