Nichols Martin
United Launch Alliance moved its Atlas V rocket to Cape Canaveral in preparation for its launch in June, Spaceflight Now reported Monday.
The rocket will link with five solid-fueled boosters to launch the U.S. Air Force’s fifth Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellite on June 27, the report noted. Lockheed Martin manfactured the satellite.
ULA’s team will equip the rocket’s 107-foot-long first stage with Aerojet Rocketdyne-made boosters and install a Centaur upper stage.
The company’s succeeding Atlas V mission will launch the Boeing-made CST-100 Starliner spacecraft into orbit.
USAF plans to use six AEHF satellites to facilitate communications between the U.S. armed forces and foreign allies.
The June 27 launch, the first Atlas 5 flight of the year, will be the 80th launch since the rocket’s 2002 debut.Â
