A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket is in final preparations to
launch Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on the second Orbital Flight
Test (OFT-2) to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch is planned
for July 30 at 2:53 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral
Space Force Station. The live launch broadcast begins no earlier than 2 p.m.
EDT on July 30 at www.ulalaunch.com.
“This second orbital flight test provides us with an opportunity to further
analyze the unique technologies developed for our Atlas V launch vehicle in
support of NASA’s human spaceflight program,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice
president of Government and Commercial Programs. “Our ultimate focus is on
the safety of the crew and this flight will ensure we are one step closer to
preparing to safely fly astronauts in the near future.”
The Atlas V rocket will deliver Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to a
98-nautical mile (nmi) sub-orbital trajectory. Following separation from the
Atlas V, the Starliner engines will propel the spacecraft to its final orbit
and on to the ISS.
Modified specifically for the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, the Atlas V
configuration does not include a payload fairing. Instead, the Starliner’s
own protective surfaces take the place of the fairing to protect the
uncrewed spacecraft during ascent.
The Starliner is attached to the Atlas V using a launch vehicle adapter
(LVA), which includes an aeroskirt to reduce aerodynamic loads on the
vehicle. The Atlas V booster for this mission is powered by the RD AMROSS
RD-180 engine. The Atlas V Centaur is powered by dual Aerojet Rocketdyne
RL10A-4-2 engines, each producing 22,600 lb of thrust.
The Centaur upper stage includes an active Emergency Detection System (EDS)
that monitors the health of the rocket throughout the flight. The EDS also
provides critical in-flight data that supports jettison of the ascent cover
and initiates Starliner spacecraft separation. Aerojet Rocketdyne provided
the two AJ-60A solid rocket boosters.
This will be the 88th launch of the Atlas V rocket and the 100th launch from
Space Launch Complex-41. To date ULA has launched 144 times with 100 percent
mission success.
With more than a century of combined heritage, ULA is the nation’s most
experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully
delivered more than 140 missions to orbit that aid meteorologists in
tracking severe weather, unlock the mysteries of our solar system, provide
critical capabilities for troops in the field, deliver cutting-edge
commercial services and enable GPS navigation.
No comments:
Post a Comment