A
United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying a payload for
the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifted off from Space Launch
Complex-3 on Friday at 10:19 p.m. EST. Designated NROL-35, the
mission is in support of national defense.
"This mission was launched on the most powerful Atlas ever launched from California with more than two million pounds of liftoff thrust,” said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Atlas and Delta Programs.
The satellite was launched aboard an Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle 541 configuration vehicle, which includes a five-meter diameter payload fairing along with four Aerojet Rocketdyne solid rocket motors attached to the Atlas booster. The Atlas booster for this mission was powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine and the Centaur upper stage was powered by the inaugural flight of the Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C-1 engine.
"We
have been working closely with Aerojet Rocketdyne and our Air Force
customers for several years to develop and extensively test this
next-generation engine to enable the most reliable and cost-effective
upper stage propulsion for our Atlas and Delta programs," said
Sponnick.ULA's next launch will carry the Mobile User Objective System-3 satellite for the United States Navy scheduled for Jan. 20 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
ULA has successfully delivered more than 85 satellites to orbit.
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