Atlas V Archives - Page 3 of 3

April 28, 2025

United Launch Alliance Set For Second Atlas V Kuiper KA-01 Launch Attempt

United Launch Alliance is set to launch and Atlas V 551 this evening from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 7:00 PM ET and closes again at 9:00 PM the same day.

This will be ULA’s first launch this year. The company is winding down Atlas V launches, with only fifteen remaining, tonight’s launch included. ULA also recently retired Delta IV Heavy, and launched the last one a year ago today. The company is moving towards its Vulcan rocket, which it has launched twice. Vulcan recently received USSL certification for its new Vulcan rocket, which is now awaiting payloads prior to its next flight.

As is customary with Atlas V, all stages are expendable, so there will be no landing and retrieval of the booster. After its job is done for the day, it will crash into the ocean and sleep with the fishes.

For More Coverage of Amazon Kuiper Project, click here.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Delta 45 has posted their Launch Mission Execution Forecast, and they are rating the chances of a weather violation at 25% on Monday, April 28, with chances dropping drastically to only a 10% chance of weather being an issue on Tuesday, April, 29th.

Trajectory

Northeast. Depending on when Atlas V launches, it may put on quite a show. Local sunset is 7:45 PM ET, so if the launch is at the opening of the window, we will see a beautiful sunset launch. If it is delayed an hour, the sun will have set on the ground, but Civil Twilight last until 8:09 PM and that means that Atlas V’s plumes will still be in sunlight up high. It might be interesting, but forecasting a jellyfish plume is tricky.

What Is Project Kuiper?

Similar to SpaceX’s Starlink, Project Kuiper is Amazon’s initiative to provide global broadband access through a constellation of over 3,000 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).

Announced in 2019, the project’s goal is to deliver fast, affordable internet connectivity to unserved and underserved communities worldwide. Like Starlink, by leveraging LEO satellites, Project Kuiper aims to provide low-latency broadband services to a diverse range of customers, including individual households, schools, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies.

ready on the launch mount at SLC-41.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk Of Titusville — Atlas V, with Kuiper K-01, stands at the ready on the launch mount at SLC-41. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk Of Titusville

To achieve this, Amazon plans to deploy some 3,236 satellites at altitudes ranging from 590 to 630 kilometers. The company has secured agreements for up to 83 launches over a five-year period, utilizing various launch providers such as Arianespace’s Ariane 6, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, and United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V and later, Vulcan Centaur.

Launch Viewing: Online

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

For official updates regarding launch times, United Launch Alliance’s website is the best source of information. Launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.

Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.

Launch Viewing: In Person

The southern viewing spots are the best for this launch, but none are particularly close except for Playalinda Beach. Problem is, Playalinda closes at 8PM, so unless the launch is right on time, it won’t be an option.

The best free options are available for spectators: 528 West at the Banana River Bridge, Jetty Park and Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral. Southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenu / US-1 are also good: Kennedy Point and Rotary Riverfront Park are your best bets.

Local recommendations also say the Cafe Paradiso and Ven pa’ Ca Café are excellent choices for before, after and even during launches. Grab a bite to eat, walk over to the Indian River and watch the launch.

April 10, 2025

Winds Force ULA To Stand Down, SpaceX On Deck Tonight With Starlink

United Launch Alliance’s Kuiper KA-01 mission was scrubbed last night due to persistent high winds and offshore showers. SpaceX has the range scheduled for a Starlink launch from KSC this evening, so ULA will be pushed back to at least Monday.

According to ULA CEO Tory Bruno on X.com, “Mighty Atlas’ count was very clean. Unfortunately, weather stayed rough. [We] appreciate support from the USSF Weather team.”

The Monday date is pending Eastern Range approval, among others, and may shift. As always, stay tuned.

Starlink 12-17

SpaceX is planning to launch another set of Starlink satellites to orbit from pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center this evening. The launch window opens at 9:54 PM ET and extends to 1:43 AM Friday morning. According to SpaceX, “If needed, additional launch opportunities are also available on Friday, April 11 starting at 9:15 p.m. ET.”

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 12-17 Mission Details

Mission	Falcon 9 Block 5 \| Starlink Group 12-17
Organization	SpaceX
Location	Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Rocket	Falcon 9 Block 5
Pad	Launch Complex 39A
Status	Go for Launch
Status Info	Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens	Thursday, 04/10/2025 9:54:40 PM EDT
Window Closes	Friday, 04/11/2025 1:43:00 AM EDT
Destination	Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description	A batch of 21 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation—SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.

After concluding its duty powering the payload towards orbit, the first stage booster, B1083, will land on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ which will be stationed on the Atlantic Ocean near The Bahamas. Since the booster is not returning directly to the Cape Canaveral region after liftoff, there will not be a sonic book over the Space Coast region.

Weather looks good, with only a 5% chance of a weather-related range violation. That said, it should be a beautiful evening to go to space.

This will be the 10th flight of B1083. Previously, it has launched Crew-8, Polaris Dawn, CRS-31, Astranis: From One to Many, IM-2, and four Starlink missions.

The trajectory is southeast, and Starlink 12-17 will pass just east of The Bahamas on its way to orbit.

ULA Atlas V Kuiper KA-01 Now Slated For Monday

Due to the SpaceX launch, this evening is not an option for United Launch Alliance to fly Atlas V and the Kuiper KA-01 mission. At this point in time, secondary sources (FAA, etc) are pointing to an attempt this coming Monday, April 14th.

For more specific information on this mission, click here: ULA Set To Launch Atlas V and Amazon Kuiper KA-01.

Atlas V 551 | Project Kuiper (KA-01) Mission Details

Mission	Atlas V 551 \| Project Kuiper (KA-01)
Organization	United Launch Alliance
Location	Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket	Atlas V 551
Pad	Space Launch Complex 41
Status	To Be Confirmed
Status Info	Awaiting official confirmation—current date is known with some certainty.
Window Opens	Monday, 04/14/2025 7:00:00 PM EDT
Window Closes	Monday, 04/14/2025 11:34:00 PM EDT
Destination	Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description	Project Kuiper is a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access. This constellation will be managed by Kuiper Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon. It is planned to be composed of 3,276 satellites, projected to be placed in 98 orbital planes across three orbital layers at altitudes of 590 km, 610 km, and 630 km.

Keep in mind that is not official, and it could easily change. Stay tuned for any schedule shifts.

April 9, 2025

ULA Set To Launch Atlas V and Amazon Kuiper KA-01 This Evening (Scrubbed, Winds)

A file photo of an Atlas V lifting off from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral

UPDATE: the launch was scrubbed due to offshore weather and also heavy winds throughout the launch window. The next attempt is penciled in for Monday, April 14, between 7:00PM and 11:34 PM EDT.

United Launch Alliance is set to launch and Atlas V 551 this evening from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 7:00 PM ET and closes again at 9:00 PM the same day.

This will be ULA’s first launch this year. The company is winding down Atlas V launches, with only fifteen remaining, tonight’s launch included. ULA also recently retired Delta IV Heavy, and launched the last one a year ago today. The company is moving towards its Vulcan rocket, which it has launched twice. Vulcan recently received USSL certification for its new Vulcan rocket, which is now awaiting payloads prior to its next flight.

As is customary with Atlas V, all stages are expendable, so there will be no landing and retrieval of the booster. After its job is done for the day, it will crash into the ocean and sleep with the fishes.

For More Coverage of Amazon Kuiper Project, click here.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Delta 45 has posted their Launch Mission Execution Forecast, and they are rating the chances of a weather violation at 45% on Wednesday April 9, with chances dropping drastically to only a 10% chance of weather being an issue on Thursday.

Trajectory

Northeast. Depending on when Atlas V launches, it may put on quite a show. Local sunset is 7:45 PM ET, so if the launch is at the opening of the window, we will see a beautiful sunset launch. If it is delayed an hour, the sun will have set on the ground, but Civil Twilight last until 8:09 PM and that means that Atlas V’s plumes will still be in sunlight up high. It might be interesting, but forecasting a jellyfish plume is tricky.

What Is Project Kuiper?

Similar to SpaceX’s Starlink, Project Kuiper is Amazon’s initiative to provide global broadband access through a constellation of over 3,000 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).

Announced in 2019, the project’s goal is to deliver fast, affordable internet connectivity to unserved and underserved communities worldwide. Like Starlink, by leveraging LEO satellites, Project Kuiper aims to provide low-latency broadband services to a diverse range of customers, including individual households, schools, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies.

To achieve this, Amazon plans to deploy some 3,236 satellites at altitudes ranging from 590 to 630 kilometers. The company has secured agreements for up to 83 launches over a five-year period, utilizing various launch providers such as Arianespace’s Ariane 6, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, and United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V and later, Vulcan Centaur.

Launch Viewing: Online

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

For official updates regarding launch times, United Launch Alliance’s website is the best source of information. Launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.

Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.

Launch Viewing: In Person

The southern viewing spots are the best for this launch, but none are particularly close except for Playalinda Beach. Problem is, Playalinda closes at 8PM, so unless the launch is right on time, it won’t be an option.

The best free options are available for spectators: 528 West at the Banana River Bridge, Jetty Park and Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral. Southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenu / US-1 are also good: Kennedy Point and Rotary Riverfront Park are your best bets.

Local recommendations also say the Cafe Paradiso and Ven pa’ Ca Café are excellent choices for before, after and even during launches. Grab a bite to eat, walk over to the Indian River and watch the launch.

April 7, 2025

NASA and Boeing Push Starliner Towards Certification

NASA and Boeing are advancing the certification process for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft following its Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station (ISS). Joint teams are addressing in-flight anomalies and planning propulsion system tests in preparation for Starliner’s upcoming missions.

Starliner’s Flights Have Been Issue-Filled

Boeing’s Crew Flight Test (CFT) of the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft encountered several technical challenges that impacted the mission:

Reaction Control System (RCS) Thruster Failures: During the approach to the International Space Station (ISS), multiple RCS thrusters experienced malfunctions. Initially, two thrusters failed, prompting manual intervention by Commander Butch Wilmore. Subsequently, a total of four thrusters became inoperative, compromising the spacecraft’s attitude control.

Wilmore later told Ars Technica that during that phase of flight, “I don’t know that we can come back to Earth at that point. I don’t know if we can. And matter of fact, I’m thinking we probably can’t.”

Clearly, it is an utter imperative for NASA and Boeing to demonstrably resolve these issues prior to any flight, much less a crewed one.
Helium Leaks: The spacecraft experienced multiple helium leaks in its propulsion system. A single leak detected after a launch scrub expanded to three by the time of docking, and eventually, five leaks were identified. These leaks affected the pressurization of the propulsion system, essential for thruster operation and orbital maneuvers.
Extended Mission Duration: Originally planned as an eight-day mission, the CFT was extended due to the aforementioned technical issues. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams remained aboard the ISS for over nine months as engineers unexpectedly.
Uncrewed Return Decision: Due to unresolved propulsion system concerns, NASA decided to return the Starliner spacecraft to Earth without crew and to return Williams and Wilmore aboard the Crew 9 SpaceX Crew Dragon. The capsule undocked from the ISS and landed safely at White Sands Missile Range on September 7, 2024.

These challenges prompted NASA and Boeing to conduct thorough investigations and implement corrective measures to ensure the spacecraft’s safety and reliability for future missions.

Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for Space Operations, emphasized the importance of commercial partnerships: “NASA’s strategy for crew transportation is critical for assured access to space using American private industry.”

He further noted, “Our investment in commercial crew transportation capabilities is providing the needed flexibility to operate in space as safely as possible and respond to changes quickly when they arise. NASA is seeing the commitment from Boeing to adding the Starliner system to the nation’s crew transportation base.”

Data Analysis on Starliner CFT Nearly Complete

Since the uncrewed Starliner capsule’s return from the ISS, NASA and Boeing have analyzed post-flight data. Over 70% of flight observations and in-flight anomalies have been addressed at program-level control boards. Major in-flight propulsion system anomalies are expected to remain under review into 2025, pending outcomes of ground testing and potential system upgrades.

The agencies are finalizing the scope and timelines for propulsion system test campaigns and analyses scheduled for spring and summer. Testing at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico will include integrated firing of key Starliner thrusters within a single service module doghouse. This aims to validate thermal models and inform potential propulsion and spacecraft thermal protection system upgrades.

Operational solutions under consideration involve adding thermal barriers within the doghouse to better regulate temperatures and modifying thruster pulse profiles in flight to prevent overheating. Concurrently, teams are testing new helium system seal options to mitigate the risk of future leaks.

Starliner’s Next Flight: Crewed Or Uncrewed?

Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, commented on the testing schedule: “Once we get through these planned test campaigns, we will have a better idea of when we can go fly the next Boeing flight.” He added, “We’ll continue to work through certification toward the end of this year and then go figure out where Starliner fits best in the schedule for the International Space Station and its crew and cargo missions. It is likely to be in the timeframe of late this calendar year or early next year for the next Starliner flight.”

Mission managers are planning for the next Starliner flight to be a crew-capable post-certification mission. However, NASA retains the flexibility to fly only cargo, depending on the agency’s needs.

One person that will not be a part of the next Starliner flight is Boeing Starliner CFT backup astronaut Mike Fincke. He has been assigned to Crew 11 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.

April 2, 2025

ULA Looks To Launch Kuiper Satellites On Atlas V April 9th

After a sluggish start to 2025, United Launch Alliance announced today that is planning to launch a tranche of Amazon Kuiper satellites on April 9, 2025 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The company added that the launch window is set to open at 12:00 PM ET and will last three hours.

This will be ULA’s first launch this year. It recently received USSL certification for its new Vulcan rocket, which is now awaiting payloads prior to its next flight.

What Is Project Kuiper?

Similar to SpaceX’s Starlink, Project Kuiper is Amazon’s initiative to provide global broadband access through a constellation of over 3,000 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).

Announced in 2019, the project’s goal is to deliver fast, affordable internet connectivity to unserved and underserved communities worldwide. Like Starlink, by leveraging LEO satellites, Project Kuiper aims to provide low-latency broadband services to a diverse range of customers, including individual households, schools, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies.

To achieve this, Amazon plans to deploy some 3,236 satellites at altitudes ranging from 590 to 630 kilometers. The company has secured agreements for up to 83 launches over a five-year period, utilizing various launch providers such as Arianespace’s Ariane 6, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, and United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V and later, Vulcan Centaur.

“We’ve designed some of the most advanced communications satellites ever built, and every launch is an opportunity to add more capacity and coverage to our network,” said Rajeev Badyal, vice president of Project Kuiper.

“We’ve done extensive testing on the ground to prepare for this first mission, but there are some things you can only learn in flight, and this will be the first time we’ve flown our final satellite design and the first time we’ve deployed so many satellites at once. No matter how the mission unfolds, this is just the start of our journey, and we have all the pieces in place to learn and adapt as we prepare to launch again and again over the coming years.”

27 Kuiper satellites will be aboard Atlas V for the KA-01 mission, which are slated to fly to a 280-mile orbital altitude.

Atlas V

The United Launch Alliance Atlas V has a 5-meter payload fairing, five Northrop Grumman GEM 63 solid rocket boosters, and a single-engine Centaur upper stage.

Standing approximately 62.2 meters tall, the Atlas V 551 can deliver payloads up to 18,814 kilograms to low Earth orbit (LEO) and 8,900 kilograms to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).

This configuration has been employed in notable missions, including the launches of NASA’s New Horizons probe to Pluto and the Juno spacecraft to Jupiter, and soon, Amazon Kuiper.

Atlas V is also crew-rated, and has carried astronauts to orbit on the Boeing Starliner CFT mission. While Boeing experienced issues with the Starliner spacecraft, its launch and orbital insertion were not one of them. Boeing CFT astronaut Suni Williams told Ars Technica’s Eric Berger recently that “The launch [on Atlas V] was awesome. Both of us looked at each other like, ‘Wow, this is going just perfectly.’ So the ride to space and the orbit insertion burn, all perfect.”

March 1, 2025

Why Black and White Photography is Still Important

Far from being anachronistic and out of date, black and white photography is as it ever was: a timeless art form that continues to influence modern photography, retaining its importance in the modern era.

In the age of high-resolution digital color imagery at our fingertips, black and white photography remains a captivating and at-once surreal form of art. The absence of color forces both the photographer and the viewer to focus on composition, contrast, detail and the intricate interplay of light and shadow without the distractions of hue and color. Tone becomes replaces color, another way of saying ‘millions of shades of grey.’ Ironically, that’s just like life: millons of shades of grey.

And everything in between.

October 27, 2024

The Sharpest Eye On The Sky: Pete Carstens And Max Q Productions

Pete Carstens is a man who can see things almost no one else can. Long after launch spectators and even photographers have called it a day, Pete continues tracking the launch, watching the streaking rocket sometimes almost all the way to orbit. Fortunately, he shares everything he sees, making space flight journalism all the better for it.

Along with Chuck and Jen Briggs of C&J Images and a handful of highly talented staff photographers, Carstens’ company, Max Q Productions, provides the bulk of the original live video that Spaceflight Now produces. SFN, of course, is one of the highest-tier independent space news organizations that provide live launch coverage and commentary and is trusted by tens of thousands of space enthusiasts around the world as an original, accurate and pleasant place to catch up on all things space-related.

Here in Florida, people often use SFN to keep up with the last hour of a countdown until after liftoff until the conclusion of launch activities. It’s not uncommon for spectators to have a Spaceflight Now livestream playing on their cellphone while they are watching the launch on the beach, beside the Indian River or even at Kennedy Space Center. If there is news, Spaceflight Now will be among the very first to share it.

Seeing What No One Else Can

Rockets travel far and fast, and after a liftoff, it’s never more than a couple of minutes before they are hard to see as a spectator on the ground with the naked eye. At night, after staging, one might see the launching rocket as a dot of light moving across the sky, but not much more than that. During the day, it’s even harder to see.

Pete Carsten’s tracking rig.
Photo: Pete Carstens

That’s where Pete Carstens and Max Q comes in. Using his gear, Pete can not only still see the rocket, he can also track a SpaceX booster’s “entry burn” from a couple hundred miles away

Photographers using the highest-end zoom lenses can’t often resolve a rocket that’s fifty miles (80 km) high and traveling a few thousand miles per hour even if they can capture great views of the engines’ flame plume.

How does he do it? “The main unit is a Kintec that has been refurbished by Ed Geiger,” Carstens said. Geiger is a legendary launch videographer who was one of the first to do what was previously the domain of NASA and the US Air Force—tracking rockets with huge telescopes purpose-fit for the task.

Starlink 10-6 from Kennedy Space Center as captured by Pete Carstens
Photo: via X

“It [the motorized telescope mount] is controlled manually by joystick,” Carstens tells us. “Mounted on it is a 12″ and 8″ telescope along with a 750mm lens as well as a wide lens that I use to acquire the rocket if it moves out of frame due to clouds. That’s four cameras mounted on the tracker.”

As far as cameras, Carstens says, “I’m currently using two Canon R5’s at 4k (can do 8k but overheating is an issue) and a 90D at 4k. I also use a stationary 90D with a 4″ telescope that I’ll use when at KSC for lift off at the launch pad at 120 FPS for slow motion clips.”

How Pete Got Started

Carstens, like many launch photographers, got his start when he moved to the Sunshine State. “I relocated to Florida with my job and family in 2019 and started photographing and taking videos immediately. It took me about one to two years to get my 14″ telescope to be able to track manually with the software provided by Astronomy Live. They can be found on X @astrofreg. I then partnered with US Launch Report and started using one of Ed Geiger’s trackers that he refurbished and have since also partnered with Spaceflight Now.”

Pete Carstens and Max Q Productions is completely mobile.
Photo courtesy: Pete Carstens

“I try to shoot every launch whether out at the Cape, or from my home on the Space Coast,” Carstens says. “Lately the only launches I miss are if I am out of town.”

That’s not always easy. Florida weather is notoriously fickle. It can be raining heavily in one spot, and as little as a single mile away, skies might be partly cloudy. “Weather can be a big issue and in the Florida summer months, it gets quite chaotic,” Carstens told us. “It can be clear at the launch pad and raining 5 miles away. I live about 20 miles south of Cape Canaveral and it can be a very different view from what is going on at the Cape with the guys at Spaceflight Now. It can work in my favor in that Cape Canaveral is completely socked in and clear down at my location.”

The control console for the Max Q Productions Kintec system
Courtesy: Pete Carstens

We asked what Pete’s favorite launches to capture are, and he said, “I would say any launch around sunset with clear skies are the best. Several launches have key moments that stand out but the Falcon Heavy USSF-67 mission on January 15, 2023 was pretty spectacular, even though my settings were a little off.”

Pete’s Tips To Hobbyist Photographers

We asked Carstens if he had any advice for amateur photographers trying to take good launch photographs. “Start with a good tripod and a good fluid mount or a 360-degree rotatable panoramic gimbal tripod head ball mount,” he said. “Also a good lens or ‘good glass’.”

An extreme example of “dirty air” or “shimmer.” The photograph is actually focused correctly, but differing refractive indices through 12 miles of Florida summer air caused the photo to be highly distorted.
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

Some other advice that Carstens offers is something that amateurs sometimes forget to do, and that’s to record their settings, the conditions at launch as well as the location where they took their photos. “Write down your camera settings for each launch as well as the time of day and conditions and adjust as needed and compare,” Carstens advises. “For instance, there is a huge difference if the sun is behind you vs in front of you. Also, time of year, summer brings humidity (dirty air) vs winter with less humidity (cleaner air) You really notice the difference with a highly magnified lens.”

That “dirty air” that Pete mentions is also called “heat distortion,” “shimmer,” or sometimes a “mirage.” Being that a photographer will always be several miles from the launch pad, the light from the rocket and the launch tower has to go a very long way to reach the camera. The temperature and humidity of the air varies over the length of the distance between the camera and rocket, and that changes its optical qualities very slightly. A good example that anyone should be familiar with is stars “twinkling” at night — that’s heat distortion. It’s the bane of launch photographers in Florida all summer.

Carstens’ advice about using good lenses is sage as well: rockets turn into tiny objects in the sky, and high-quality glass resolves them more clearly, resulting in a better photo. And that should be mounted to a solid tripod that’s steady, coupled with a camera mount that operates smoothly.

How To Follow Pete Carstens Online

If you’d like to keep up with Pete’s work, he told us that “I provide live launch tracking for Spaceflight Now on their live YouTube channel. I also post still images from the video and then edit together the different focal length shots to a video that I post on my YouTube channel at Max-Q Productions – (@maxqproductions1) and then post to the following Social sites, X – @CarstensPete, Instagram – @pete_carstens, Facebook – pete.carstens.56, [and on] TikTok – @petecarstens3.”

Give him a follow on one or more of those channels. If you enjoy incredible images of rockets in flight, you will be glad that you did.

July 30, 2024

United Launch Alliance, Atlas V, USSF-51, July 30, 2024

United Launch Alliance launched an Atlas V 551 from Space Launch Complex 41 this morning carrying the USSF-51 classified national defense payload for the US Space Force. Liftoff was at 06:45 AM EDT, just as the sun was rising.

Today’s launch was the last national security payload for Atlas V, but the rocket will continue to fly until 2030 when it will loft astronauts aboard Starliner to the ISS. All remaining Atlas V launches are scheduled to take place in Cape Canaveral at SLC-41.

The next Atlas V scheduled to launch will be for Amazon’s Project Kuiper sometime in the fourth quarter of this year, carrying the first of its production satellites to orbit for the company’s planned LEO-based Internet service.

Full story is here

July 30, 2024

ULA Launches Atlas V and USSF-51

Atlas V rising Tuesday morning
Photo: Ed Cordero / ERC Photos

United Launch Alliance launched an Atlas V 551 from Space Launch Complex 41 this morning carrying the USSF-51 classified national defense payload for the US Space Force. Liftoff was at 06:45 AM EDT, just as the sun was rising.

Today’s launch was the last national security payload for Atlas V, but the rocket will continue to fly until 2030 when it will loft astronauts aboard Starliner to the ISS. The next Atlas V scheduled to launch will be for Amazon’s Project Kuiper sometime in the fourth quarter of this year, carrying the first of its production satellites to orbit for the company’s planned LEO-based Internet service.

Atlas V left its tell-tale exhaust plume, brightly lit by the rising sun.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Liftoff was nominal, and the rocket soared to orbit with no apparent issues. Tory Bruno, ULA’s CEO, called the flight “Hot, straight, and normal” six minutes after liftoff, and moments later announced that Atlas V was in orbit. Presumably, pending an announcement of payload deployment, the flight was a success.

Launch Replay

Payload

Today’s payload was a classified national defense asset for the US Space Force. No other information was given.

Atlas V rising.
Photo: Ed Cordero / ERC Photos

Remaining Atlas V Launches From Cape Canaveral

Despite some reports in the media, today’s flight was not the last-ever Atlas V launch from Cape Canaveral, instead, it was the final national security mission from the workhorse rocket. The last Atlas V won’t launch until 2030 if the current manifest plays out as planned:

Next Launch

SpaceX will launch another tranche of Starlink satellites overnight on Friday morning.

Date: NET August 2, 2024
Organization: SpaceX
Mission: Starlink 10-6
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Launch Window: 12:19 AM – 05:02 AM EDT
Payload: Starlink satellites

Atlas V lifting off.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

July 29, 2024

Launch Preview: ULA Set To Launch USSF-51 Aboard Atlas V Tomorrow

United Launch Alliance is planning to launch an Atlas V tomorrow morning from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 06:45 AM EDT and extends to 11:45 AM the same day.

The payload for this mission is classified and is for the United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC). No other information is publicly available.

In their press materials, ULA notes that “The Atlas V USSF-51 mission on Tuesday is the 100th ULA launch dedicated to national security.” They also note that this is the last national security mission for Atlas V, and that future missions will be aboard the company’s new rocket, Vulcan.

At A Glance

Mission: USSF-51
Date: NET July 30, 2024
Launch Window: 06:45 AM – 11:45 AM EDT*
Weather: 80% Go during the primary launch window
Organization: United Launch Alliance
Rocket: Atlas V 551
Trajectory: Easterward
Launch Site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Booster Landing: None
Payload: Classified
Destination: Classified

^{* consult ULA website for the specific target for T-0.}

Mission Profile

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron has released their weather forecast, and it’s a good one as far as launches go: only a 20% probability of violation, meaning the forecasters expect an 80% chance of acceptable weather during the launch window.

The 45th’s main concerns are, “The possibility of showers and an isolated thunderstorm near or just off the Spaceport coast in the mornings Tuesday and Wednesday. The Cumulus Cloud Rule and Anvil Cloud Rules are the concerns for the primary launch window and Cumulus Cloud Rule is the concern for the backup launch window.”

via 45th Weather Squadron
Retrieved July 29, 2024

Trajectory

The rocket’s trajectory will be East-Southeast as it rises, effectively straight away from the coast if you are facing the Atlantic Ocean in Florida.

Online Viewing

United Launch Alliance will have a live feed of the launch beginning at 06:25 AM EDT

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

For official updates regarding launch times, ULALaunch.com is the best source of information.

Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

Next Space Launch an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play.

Launch Viewing: In Person

This morning’s planned launch is from SLC-41, on the south side of the Eastern Range (KSC and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station combined.) The southern parks in Titusville on Washington Avenue and FL-528/A1A in Cape Canaveral are the best spots to watch liftoff directly.

Banana River Bridge on FL-528 W in Cape Canaveral
Kennedy Point Park in Titusville
Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville

Restaurants With Good Launch Views

Given the early hours of the launch window (0:645AM – 11:45AM EDT) these restaurants may not be open for launch viewing. Later in the day, all three may well be, so if you are interested, be sure to call ahead to make sure they’ll be ready to serve you.

The Space Bar ($$$) – atop the Courtyard Marriott near Kennedy Parkway
New York New York ($$) – on the Indian River with an outdoor seating area. Is family-friendly.
Shiloh’s ($$$) — located on the Indian River with an outdoor deck overlooking KSC/CCSFS

Indirect Views

There are several excellent viewing spots for SLC-41 launches that offer indirect views — meaning you won’t see the rocket until it clears obstructions such as trees, buildings, even a storm berm in one case.

Jetty Park, Port Canaveral
- Fee required, much be purchased in advance: Port Canaveral Store
- It’s very possible to see a cruise ship coming or going.
- The pier especially has great views
Cocoa Beach
- Parking fees (probably). Pay with your smartphone on the parking app. There are signs everywhere telling you how.
- Further away, but still good views.
Northern Titusville Parks
- Further away, but really nice views.

Playalinda Beach

Playalinda Beach out on the Cape Canaveral National Seashore will be open to spectators at 6:00 AM EDT, that is if KSC Security and the National Park Service allow viewers for the launch. That’s a bit tight for a 06:45 AM launch, but this may be an option available to you. I cannot stress this enough: Call ahead to be sure.

Cape Canaveral National Seashore • Playalinda Beach
Phone: (386) 428-3384 x0
Current operating hours: 6:00 AM–8:00 PM

If you are going to Playalinda, and if it is open, remember these general tips. Some may not apply to this particular launch.

Get there at least two hours early, or better, earlier than that. Lines are long at the entry gate and they will only allow as many spectator vehicles as there are parking space available.
If the launch L-0 time is moved to after 8PM, you must leave Playalinda, as the National Park Service is very strict about closing hours.
Cape Canaveral National Seashore has a fee to get in and cash is not accepted. Debit and credit cards are okay, or if you have one of the National Park Service’s passes for the Seashore or the National Parks, that will work as well.
Cellphone service is spotty at best and often non-existent at Playalinda. Don’t count on your cellphone to keep up with the launch; you might get a signal, or you might not.
You are not allowed to view from the pullouts on Beach Road. Stanchions will block them. You’ll have to park and go to the beach.
Refreshments are not available. There are no stores at Cape Canaveral National Seashore, so you’ll need to bring drinks and food if you want any while you’re there.
Rangers will keep you back a certain distance from the launch area on the beach. Even if the beach is open, you’ll still be unable to go down to the fence that demarcates the normal security zone. There’s a line that spectators can’t go past somewhat north of the fence. That’s for safety and security.

Be prepared for potential changes or pushbacks in the launch schedule, and keep up by monitoring the live stream links mentioned above.

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