Atlas V rocket launches 2 communications satellites to orbit - Space.com
The powerful rocket lifted off at 5:36 p.m.An Atlas V rocket lifted off Tuesday evening (Oct. 4) from Florida's Space Coast, carrying two commercial communications satellites to orbit.The Atlas V, topped with the twin SES-20 and SES-21 spacecraft, launched Tuesday at 5:36 p.m.It jettisoned its three solid rocket boosters about 2 minutes after liftoff as planned, for example, and discarded its payload fairing, which protected the two satellites during launch, about 1.5 minutes later.
If all goes according to plan, SES-20 will be deployed about 5 hours and 40 minutes after liftoff, and SES-21 will follow suit roughly 40 minutes later.Once the satellites are established in those orbits and have been through a checkout period, SES-20 and SES-21 can begin doing what they were built to do — provide television broadcasting service across the United States for the Luxembourg telecom company SES."Proven hardware coupled with next-generation technology created an affordable and lightweight spacecraft, enabling two satellites to launch on a single rocket," they added.— These Atlas V rocket Space Force launch photos and videos are simply epic.— Atlas V rocket launches SBIRS Geo-5 missile warning satellite for US Space Force.Get breaking space news and the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more.