CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — United Launch Alliance successfully launched Friday an Atlas V rocket that will deliver a classified government satellite into orbit.
What You Need To Know
- The rocket will deliver a classified government satellite into orbit
- Several other launch attempts have had to be delayed
- WATCH LIVE: United Launch Alliance webcast ▼
The launch time had shifted slightly Friday afternoon from the previously announced time of 5:13 p.m. ET after a timing issue with some valves was resolved, ULA indicated on Twitter.
To recap, #AtlasV launched at 5:32pmEST (2232 UTC) from Cape Canaveral for @SNatReconOfc. At the request of our customer, this will conclude our live coverage of today's countdown and #NROL101 liftoff. https://t.co/M91ugJaYds pic.twitter.com/In3sxHg4cd
— ULA (@ulalaunch) November 13, 2020
A new launch time of 5:32pmEST (2232 UTC) is being coordinated for #AtlasV launch.
— ULA (@ulalaunch) November 13, 2020
NEW LAUNCH TIME has seen set for 5:24 p.m. EST (2224 UTC) for #AtlasV and #NROL101. https://t.co/M91ugJaYds
— ULA (@ulalaunch) November 13, 2020
Anomaly Chief Dave McFarland reports that the timing issue with some valves has been resolved. So the team is ready to proceed with the #AtlasV countdown.
— ULA (@ulalaunch) November 13, 2020
The launch weather office said there is a 90% chance of allowable conditions for launch.
Launch Weather Officer Jessica Williams gives a 90 percent chance of allowable conditions for liftoff of #AtlasV and #NROL101 today. Violation of the Range Lightning Launch Commit Criteria governing cumulus clouds is only a remote concern for this evening's launch opportunity. pic.twitter.com/q0e9NuYB47
— ULA (@ulalaunch) November 13, 2020
The #AtlasV countdown continues to progress well as guidance system and flight control testing is occurring in parallel. Liftoff remains targeted for 5:13pmEST (2213 UTC) today. https://t.co/M91ugJaYds pic.twitter.com/RM6kaOEbsh
— ULA (@ulalaunch) November 13, 2020
This launch has been rescheduled multiple times: On Tuesday, the launch was delayed because of the approach of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Eta. Strong winds scratched an attempt last Monday, then a ground system valve problem interrupted the countdown November 4. It was then rescheduled for this past Sunday.
The payload aboard the Atlas V is the NROL-101, a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. No details are being released about it. It's United Launch Alliance's 29th mission for the government agency.
SpaceX, meanwhile, is targeting its second crewed launch for Sunday, November 15 from Kennedy Space Center. Crew-1 is the private space firm's first official crew rotation to the International Space Station, after a test launch called Demo-1 earlier this year delivered two NASA astronauts to the ISS in a dress rehearsal for Crew-1.
SpaceX also announced a cargo launch to the ISS in December. The first launch of an upgraded Dragon cargo capsule is targeted for no earlier than 12:50 p.m. ET December 2.