A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a commercial communications satellite blasted off at 1:55 a.m. EST today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch of Intelsat-14, on behalf of Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services, was the 19th by an Atlas V and the ninth for a commercial customer.
It also marked ULA's 35th launch in 35 months.
The satellite was scheduled to separate from the rocket's Centaur upper stage a little under two hours after liftoff, before parking about 109 miles high.
The Intelsat-14 satellite will provide high-powered video and data services through its 40 C-band and 22 Ku-band payload to customers throughout the Americas, Europe and Africa, according to the company.
A first launch attempt scrubbed Nov. 14 because of a technical glitch. Tonight's countdown appeared on track for an on time liftoff at 12:50 a.m., the opening of a 90-minute window, as concerns about anvil clouds dissipated.
But just as the countdown was set to resume from a built-in hold at T minus four minutes, the launch time was reset for 1:15 a.m.
Upper level wind shear violated launch rules, requiring an adjustment to flight profile software that compensates for wind speeds and force as the rocket climbs.
The launch was pushed back again to 1:35 a.m., and then 1:55 a.m. -- 25 minutes before the launch window closed -- as a series of weather balloons were launched to collect data.
Conditions lined up just in time to pick up the count again at 1:51 a.m. Four minutes later, the rocket rumbled from the pad in a rising blur of fire through the darkness.
It remained visible for several minutes as three solid rocket boosters fell away and the first stage common core booster separated.
An hour after launch, all systems were performing properly, according to ULA launch commentators.
We'll provide an update on the spacecraft's status when it becomes available.
IMAGE NOTE: Above: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying a commercial communications satellite blasts off at 1:55 this morning from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Credit: Craig Bailey, Florida Today. Below: A launch photo by Pat Corkery, Lockheed Martin and United Launch Alliance. The Atlas V was launched on behalf of Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services. The Intelsat-14 satellite will provide high-powered video and data services through its 40 C-band and 22 Ku-band payload to customers throughout the Americas, Europe and Africa.
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