Launch News Atlas V, NROL-38, June 20, 2012

[IronRain]

1128 GMT (7:28 a.m. EDT)
Now 60 minutes from liftoff. Fueling of the Atlas rocket with cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen is nearly complete as the countdown continues as planned for a liftoff at 8:28 a.m. EDT, weather permitting.

 

[IronRain]

1154 GMT (7:54 a.m. EDT)
A nice gap in the cloud coverage is moving into the Cape Canaveral area now and ground winds remain below the launch limit. So all weather rules are "green" at the present time and expected to remain that way for the 8:28 a.m. EDT liftoff.

 

[IronRain]

1159 GMT (7:59 a.m. EDT)
T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the planned 25-minute hold to give the launch team a chance to review all systems before pressing ahead with liftoff. The hold is longer than usual this morning, as the team built in an additional 15 minutes to the countdown to deal with any issues or catch up on work during the overnight operation

 

[Codz]

Liftoff!

---------- Post added at 12:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:29 PM ----------

First stage shut off and separation.

---------- Post added at 12:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:32 PM ----------

Fairing jet.

 

[IronRain]

Launch video:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gBmqQzftRw&feature=g-u-u"][Atlas V] Launch of NROL-38 on Atlas V 401 - YouTube[/ame]

 

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A few shots from ULA:

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Spaceflight Now:

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• Atlas 5 rocket launches on 50th EELV mission (PHOTO GALLERY #1)
  
  
• Atlas 5 rocket launches on 50th EELV mission (PHOTO GALLERY #1)

 

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United Launch Alliance:

 

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Spaceflight Now: Covert payload from last Atlas 5 unmasks itself in orbit:

Shot into space under a cloak of secrecy last month, a bright new object spotted in space this week has confirmed that the most recent Atlas 5 rocket successfully dispatched a data-relay satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.

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It is believed that the satellite will replace an aging relay spacecraft launched atop an Atlas 2AS rocket from Cape Canaveral in October 2001.

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