Posted: Wed, Sep 18, 2002, 10:44 PM ET (0244 GMT)
An Atlas 2AS successfully launched a Hispasat communications satellite Wednesday evening. The Atlas 2AS lifted off from pad 36A at Cape Canaveral, Florida on schedule at 6:04 pm EDT (2204 GMT) and released its payload, the Hispasat 1D communications satellite, into a supersynchronous transfer orbit 29 minutes later. Hispasat 1D, an Alcatel Spacebus 3000B2 spacecraft, will be used by Madrid-based Hispasat to provide Ku-band communications services from 30 degrees west longitude. The launch is the fourth Atlas launch of 2002, counting the Atlas 3B and Atlas 5 launches in February and August respectively, as well as an Atlas 2A launch in March. The launch is also the 62nd consecutive successful Atlas launch dating back to 1993.

Related Links:

•  International Launch Services press release
•  SPACE.com article
•  AP article
•  Spaceflight Now launch status center