Photo Gallery: Atlas V Rocket Launches The AEHF-3 Satellite
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the Advanced Extremely High Frequency-3 (AEHF-3) satellite for the United States Air Force lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 here at 4:10 a.m. EDT today. This mission was launched aboard an Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) 531 configuration vehicle, which includes a 5-meter diameter RUAG Space payload fairing along with three Aerojet solid rocket motors attached to the Atlas booster.
“The United Launch Alliance team is proud to serve alongside our mission partners and privileged that the Air Force has entrusted the ULA team to deliver the critical national security capabilities provided by AEHF-3 to orbit for our soldiers, sailors, airman and Marines around the world,” said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Atlas and Delta Programs.
After rolling out to the launch pad, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket stands ready to blast off with the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
After rolling out to the launch pad, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket stands ready to blast off with the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
After rolling out to the launch pad, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket stands ready to blast off with the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
After rolling out to the launch pad, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket stands ready to blast off with the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
After rolling out to the launch pad, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket stands ready to blast off with the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
After rolling out to the launch pad, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket stands ready to blast off with the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
One of the two diesel-powered locomotives that hauled a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the launch pad with the U.S. Air Force AEHF-3 satellite on top. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
One of the two diesel-powered locomotives that hauled a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the launch pad with the U.S. Air Force AEHF-3 satellite on top. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
After rolling out to the launch pad, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket stands ready to blast off with the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
After rolling out to the launch pad, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket stands ready to blast off with the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
Photo Credit: Val Phillips / Zero-G News
Photo Credit: Val Phillips / Zero-G News
Photo Credit: Val Phillips / Zero-G News
Photo Credit: Val Phillips / Zero-G News
Atlas V blasts off with AEHF-3. Photo Credit: Melanie Lee / Zero-G News
Atlas V blasts off with AEHF-3. Photo Credit: Melanie Lee / Zero-G News
Atlas V blasts off with AEHF-3. Photo Credit: Melanie Lee / Zero-G News
Atlas V blasts off with AEHF-3. Photo Credit: Melanie Lee / Zero-G News
Atlas V blasts off with AEHF-3. Photo Credit: Melanie Lee / Zero-G News
Awaiting its mission on Space Launch Complex 41, the Atlas 5 – 531/AEHF-3 stands ready as the weather slowly cleared. Photo Credit: http://www.nasatech.net
Liftoff and clear of the table as the boosters blaze to life. Photo Credit: http://www.nasatech.net
As the furious vibrations shake cascades of ice off of the liquid oxygen tank the Atlas 5-531 reaches for the sky and its supersynchronous transfer orbit. Photo Credit: http://www.nasatech.net
Launch Utility Tower clear! The Atlas 5 – 531 with its AEHF-3 payload begins to transit the catenary lightning cables. Photo Credit: http://www.nasatech.net
Halfway through the lightning wires, the Atlas 5 accelerates to its rendezvous with a supersynchronous transfer orbit. Photo Credit: http://www.nasatech.net
Clear of all earthly obstacles, the Atlas 5 launch vehicle begins its roll program to align it with its 20.9 degree orbital inclination. Photo Credit: http://www.nasatech.net
Through a cloud on its way to orbit, the Atlas 5 – 531 vehicle and it AEHF-3 payload dapple the clouds with light…. Photo Credit: http://www.nasatech.net
…and come out the top, amid the night, resplendent on a seething tower of dawn and thunder. Photo Credit: http://www.nasatech.net
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
An Atlas V rocket thunders into the night-time sky carrying the AEHF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
