Photos by United Launch Alliance
“This launch is a critical step towards future human spaceflight onboard Atlas V and we look forward to the remainder of this mission.”
United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V lifted off on May 19 at 6:54 p.m. EDT, from Space Launch Complex-41 (SLC) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) to the International Space Station (ISS). This is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
The Atlas V rocket then delivered the Boeing Starliner spacecraft to a 98-nautical mile (nmi) sub-orbital trajectory. Following separation from the Atlas V, the Starliner engines ignited to put the Starliner on its orbital path toward the ISS. To date ULA has launched 150 times with 100 percent mission success. This marks the 93rdsuccessful launch of an Atlas V rocket, and the 104th launch from SLC-41.
“The integrated NASA, Boeing, and ULA team has worked diligently to ensure the highest level of safety for future astronaut crews,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “This launch is a critical step towards future human spaceflight onboard Atlas V and we look forward to the remainder of this mission. Thank you to all of our mission partners for the outstanding teamwork to deliver this spacecraft to orbit.”
Producing more than one and a half million pounds of thrust at liftoff, the Atlas V configuration was modified specifically for the Starliner spacecraft.
ULA’s next launch is the USSF-12 mission for the U.S. Space Force, planned for June 29, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.