spacetoday.net: Atlas launches military communications satellite

Posted: Sat, Feb 25, 2012, 10:19 AM ET (1519 GMT)
Atlas 5 launch of MUOS-1 (ULA)

After two weather-related delays last week, an Atlas 5 rocket successfully launched the first in a new generation of military communications satellites on Friday. The Atlas 5 551 lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 5:15 pm EST (2215 GMT) Friday carrying the MUOS-1 satellite. The rocket's Centaur upper stage, performing its 200th flight, released the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit about three hours later. The lunch had been scheduled for launch week but scrubbed twice because of winds and other weather conditions. MUOS-1 is the first in the new Mobile User Objective System series of satellites designed to provide mobile communications for military forces. The MUOS satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, weighs about 6,800 kilograms, making it the heaviest satellite yet launched on an Atlas.