ULA launches first Atlas V from Calif.
Rocky Mountain News
Published March 13, 2008 at 9:13 a.m.
Updated March 13, 2008 at 10:01 a.m.
Photo by Patrick H. Corkery
March 13, 2008. The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket (AV-006) launched a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The first Atlas V launch from Vandenberg. The rocket flew in the 411 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, one strap-on solid rocket booster and a single-engine Centaur upper stage.
United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket made its debut flight from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California early today, carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload.
The launch ushers in a new era of space launch capability for the Air Force and ULA as part of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. For Atlas V, today's success builds on 12 previous Atlas V launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., starting in 2002.
"This is a proud moment in our company's history," said Michael Gass, ULA president and chief executive officer. "This launch caps four years of planning and hard work. . . . >We now have a sixth operational launch complex, giving us three each at Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral for our Atlas and Delta vehicles. Combine this with the most experienced team in the business and ULA has built the strongest space launch company in the world."
ULA program management, engineering, test, and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver and supported by transition employees in Huntington Beach, Calif. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are in Decatur, Ala., Harlingen, Texas, San Diego and Denver.
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