ULA launch of a centesimal nationwide safety mission
At 6:45 a.m. EDT (10:45 UTC) on July 30, 2024, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) rocket lifted off from Florida on its a centesimal nationwide safety mission. ULA’s Atlas V rocket carried the U.S.-51 mission for the US Area Drive’s Area Techniques Command into space. That is the ultimate prime secret launch for the Atlas V rocket. ULA will proceed to make use of the Atlas V rocket with 15 extra industrial and non-defense missions developing, together with crewed launches. In the meantime, it’s additionally engaged on certification of the brand new Vulcan rocket. Vulcan’s final certification flight was in January.
On January 8, 2024, a Vulcan rocket launched the Peregrine lunar lander from Astrobotic into space. The launch itself was successful, in addition to the separation from the Vulcan rocket. However the payload – Peregrine – developed a leak and crashed again to Earth.
That was the inaugural liftoff for Vulcan. The Area Drive has a rising backlog of navy missions awaiting Vulcan’s certification. Ultimately, a Vulcan rocket can even launch Sierra Area’s Dream Chaser space airplane someday in 2025.
On July 30, 2024, a ULA launch of an Atlas V rocket with a nationwide safety mission took off from the launchpad at Area Launch Complicated 41 in Florida. Pictures through Greg Diesel Walck. Unique to EarthSky.
Extra photos from the launchpad
Greg Diesel Walck was at Cape Canaveral on Tuesday morning because the Atlas V roared into space. Listed below are a number of the photos he took solely for EarthSky.
This was the a centesimal and remaining nationwide safety mission for ULA launching authorities payloads to space. Picture through Greg Diesel Walck. Unique to EarthSky.One other shot of ULA’s Atlas V rocket carrying a United States Area Drive payload into space on July 30, 2024, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Picture through Greg Diesel Walck. Unique to EarthSky.A closeup of the U.S. Area Drive payload and Atlas V rocket from the launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Picture through Greg Diesel Walck. Unique to EarthSky.The plume left behind by the Atlas V rocket simply earlier than dawn on July 30, 2024, in Florida. Be aware the moon simply above the rocket path. Picture through Greg Diesel Walck. Unique to EarthSky.
Backside line: On July 30, 2024, the ULA launch of an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, was its a centesimal and remaining nationwide safety launch. Discover out what’s subsequent for the corporate.
Kelly Kizer Whitt has been a science author specializing in astronomy for greater than twenty years. She started her profession at Astronomy Journal, and he or she has made common contributions to AstronomyToday and the Sierra Membership, amongst different shops. Her kids’s image e book, Photo voltaic System Forecast, was printed in 2012. She has additionally written a younger grownup dystopian novel titled A Totally different Sky. When she just isn’t studying or writing about astronomy and staring up on the stars, she enjoys touring to the nationwide parks, creating crossword puzzles, operating, tennis, and paddleboarding. Kelly lives in Wisconsin.
