[Launch Alert] Atlas V Launched

Sun Oct 18 13:43:54 EDT 2009

                             LAUNCH ALERT

                              Brian Webb
                     Ventura County, California
                         kd6nrp at earthlink.net
                     http://www.spacearchive.info

                                2009 October 18 (Sunday) 10:40 PDT
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             UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE 600TH ATLAS MISSION
                   SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES DMSP F18
                          ULA News Release

Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., (Oct 18, 2009) - Adding to the
Atlas rocket program's accomplished five decade legacy, a United
Launch Alliance Atlas V successfully launched the U.S. Air Force's
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F18 (DMSP F18) mission from
Space Launch Complex-3 here at 9:12 a.m. PDT, today. The DMSP F18
spacecraft was built for the Air Force by Lockheed Martin Space
Systems Company in Sunnyvale, Calif.

This mission marked the 600th launch of an Atlas vehicle, carrying on
a proud tradition that began with the first Atlas A rocket launched
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., in 1957. For the Atlas V,
today's success was the 18th for the program, with a 100 percent
mission success rate. The inaugural launch for the latest Atlas V
configuration occurred from CCAFS on Aug. 21, 2002.

"This is a proud moment in the 52 year history of the Atlas program
and for United Launch Alliance," said Mark Wilkins, ULA vice
president, Atlas Product Line.  "First, I want to thank our Air Force
customer for trusting ULA to launch this important mission. I'd also
like to recognize all the men and women who have served on the Atlas
team since 1957.  Their determination, dedication and attention to
detail have made this significant milestone possible. Combining our
Atlas and Delta launch vehicle program's more than 100 years of
experience gives ULA the most experienced space launch team in the
world." 

During the program's history, 315 launches have taken place from CCAFS
with 285 missions, including today's launch, launching from
Vandenberg.  While the Atlas program has launched numerous important
missions, it may be most famous for launching Mercury astronauts John
Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra and Gordon Cooper during the
early days of human space flight. Atlas has also launched several Moon
and planetary missions including the recent Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter (LRO) and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite
(LCROSS) mission on June 18. 

This mission, designated AV-017, was launched aboard an Atlas V 401
configuration using the Common Core Booster powered by the RD-180
engine. The 17 previous Atlas V launches included three missions each
for the Air Force, NASA, and NRO along with eight for commercial
customers.   

ULA's next launch, currently scheduled for Nov. 14, is the Atlas V
IntelSat-14 mission from Space Launch Complex-41 at CCAFS. 

ULA program management, engineering, test and mission support
functions are headquartered in Denver, Colo. Manufacturing, assembly,
and integration operations are located at Decatur, Ala., Harlingen,
Texas, San Diego, Calif., and Denver, Colo. Launch operations are
located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., and Vandenberg Air
Force Base, Calif.

For more information on the ULA joint venture, visit the ULA Web site
at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321
(852-4321).

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