Launch News Atlas V Successfully Launched NROL-79 (1st March, 0950 PST)

[Nicholas Kang]

Rocket/Payload:A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 configuration rocket will launch the NROL-79 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Date/Site/Launch Time:Wednesday, March 1, 2017, from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Launch is planned for 9:50 a.m. PST.

Webcast: Tune in to ULA’s live launch day broadcast beginning at 9:30 a.m. PST.

Launch Notes: NROL-79 will mark the 70th Atlas V launch and the 35th in the 401 configuration since the rocket’s inaugural mission in 2002.

Mission Profile

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DzB6500n-E"]Atlas V NROL-79 Mission Profile - YouTube[/ame]

T+00:01.1: Liftoff

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 vehicle, designated AV-068, will lift off and begin a vertical rise away from Space Launch Complex 3-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

T+00:81: Mach 1 and Max Q

The Atlas rocket achieves Mach 1 some 81 seconds into the flight, then passes through the region of maximum dynamic pressure at 89 seconds.

T+04:03: Main Engine Cutoff

The RD-180 main engine completes its firing after consuming the load of RP-1 kerosene fuel and liquid oxygen supply in the Atlas first stage.

T+04:09: Stage Separation

The Common Core Booster first stage of the Atlas 5 rocket separates from the Centaur upper stage. Over the next few seconds, the Centaur engine liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen systems are readied for ignition.

T+04:19: Centaur Ignition No. 1

The Centaur RL10 engine ignites to inject the Centaur stage and NROL-79 spacecraft into orbit.

T+04:27: Nose Cone Jettison

The two-piece, 14-foot-diameter payload fairing that protected the NROL-79 craft during the atmospheric ascent is separated to reveal the satellite to space.

The mission now enters a news blackout to perform the orbit-shaping and payload deployment for the National Reconnaissance Office in secrecy.

After performing its mission, the Centaur will be de-orbited into the South Pacific, west of Chile.

Gallery

Rocky, the ULA mascot, even paid a visit to the pad Tuesday morning while photographers were setting up sound-activated cameras to capture the launch.

Photo credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News

Go Atlas! Go Centaur! Go NROL-79!

 

[Andy44]

Thumbs up for the mascot LOL that's hilarious.

 

[boogabooga]

That mascot. It looks...it looks like...

hmmm. :blink:

 

[Nicholas Kang]

Sorry, I was sleeping when the launch occurred, so I did not broadcast the launch when it occurred. Some nice launch picture, videos and the live broadcast here:

 

[Urwumpe]

That mascot. It looks...it looks like...

*cut* JOHNSON!

 

[MaverickSawyer]

*cut* JOHNSON!

 

[Andy44]