Atlas V Archives

Starliner Launch Delayed Again, Now Is NET May 21

By Charles Boyer FMN May 14, 2024Atlas V, Space News, United Launch Alliance

Boeing Starliner sits atop an Atlas/Centaur booster at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station SLC-41 on May 6th. Photo: Charles Boyer/FMN

The target launch date for Boeing’s oft-delayed CFT-100 S tarliner capsule has been shifted again. The Crewed Flight Test of the vehicle is now targeted for May 21 at 4:14 PM EDT.

Atlas V Valve Issue Scrubs Starliner; Launch Date Now NET May 17

By Charles Boyer FMN May 7, 2024Atlas V, Aviation and Space News, ISS, NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

Atlas V and Starliner sits on Launch Complex 41 Monday night.
Photo: United Launch Alliance

UPDATE: Several sources are now reporting that Starliner will have to be rolled back from the pad with a new launch date NET May 17th.

Cape Canaveral It was all going well until it wasn’t. That’s often the story with launch attempts: tens of thousands of things must work perfectly, perform as planned, and operate normally, and only one thing has to go wrong for the attempt to be called off.

Starliner Crew Capsule on the Move

By Richard Gallagher FMN April 16, 2024Atlas V, KSC, NASA

*Starliner Crew Capsule being moved to the vertical integration facility. Image by: Richard P Gallagher*

As the aerospace community looks toward the future of crewed space travel, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner is poised to become a pivotal player in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. This morning’s rollout of the crew capsule ahead of the first crewed launch marks a significant milestone for Boeing. The Starliner spacecraft was moved from the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility (C3PF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center this morning at 4am to the Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in order to be attached to the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

Boeing Starliner Launch Now NET May 1st

By Charles Boyer FMN March 22, 2024Atlas V, Aviation and Space News, ISS, NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

Boeing’s Crewed Flight Test of Starliner has pushed a little further to the right again and is now scheduled to launch no earlier than May 1st. That shift is not due to any concerns with the vehicle or its readiness, but instead, ISS scheduling, specifically docking port availability, when astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Willmore arrive at the orbiting outpost.

Rendering of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner docked at ISS

NASA’s Steve Stich Gives Quick Starliner Update

By Charles Boyer FMN February 28, 2024Atlas V, Aviation and Space News, NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

Rendering of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner docked at ISS
Graphic: Boeing Corporation

During the NASA Administrator Briefing from the Kennedy Space Center mainly centered around Crew-8 readiness today, Steve Stich, the Manager of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program gave some insight about the status of the planned first crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner. That launch is currently planned for late April of this year.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper Takes Flight

By Mark Stone FMN October 6, 2023Atlas V, Space News, United Launch Alliance

‍A ULA Atlas V sends two test satellites to orbit for Amazon on Friday, October6. 2023. Photo by Mark Stone for FMN

In the quest to bridge the digital divide and provide new global internet connectivity to underserved communities, Amazon has embarked on an ambitious venture known as Project Kuiper. This groundbreaking initiative aims to revolutionize satellite internet connectivity through the deployment of a vast constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).

Project Kuiper, spearheaded by Amazon, seeks to address the challenges of delivering broadband access to remote and underserved areas around the world. With the ultimate goal of providing fast, reliable, and affordable internet, Amazon plans to launch a total of 3,236 satellites into LEO. These satellites will form a constellation capable of delivering broadband connectivity to even the most remote corners of our planet.

United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-107 Silent Barker

By TJ Waller FMN September 13, 2023Atlas V, Space News, United Launch Alliance

BY: TJ WALLER

Introduction

In a significant achievement for the United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the United Launch Alliance (ULA) has successfully launched the NROL-107/SILENTBARKER mission; marking ULA’s 98th launch for national security. This joint national security mission was carried out by an Atlas V 551 rocket, adding another feather to ULA’s cap of 157 launches with a 100 percent success rate. The not-so-silent Silent Barker lifted off at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sunday, September 10, 2023 at 8:47 AM EDT, and drew an exceptionally large crowd of spectators, media and photographers all along the Space Coast!