A rare sight is coming to the Space Coast Tuesday morning. A 196-foot-tall Atlas V rocket will blast off the launch pad on a secret Space Force mission.
There’s been only one other Atlas V launch this year and that was for the Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test.
Set to liftoff at 6:45 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 30, the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will carry the United States Space Force USSF-51 mission from Launch Complex-41, which is south of Kennedy Space Center.
As of Friday morning, the weather conditions for Tuesday’s launch were forecasted to stand favorably with only 20% chance of conditions preventing launch.
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When liftoff occurs, the rocket’s five solid rocket boosters − which are mounted around the core rocket − will help initially push it off the launch pad and on its way. This added power makes for a bright display.
While into its final flights before retirement, this workhorse rocket is flying its final national security payload mission. Marking the Atlas V’s 58th launch for national security, the USSF-51 mission will carry a top secret payload for the United States Space Force Systems Command. As the mission is for national security, there are no details on the payload or destination.
However, USSF-51 marks the overall 100th mission that United Launch Alliance has provided launch services for across its fleet of rockets − a number which is slated to grow once the company begins flying its Vulcan rocket. The Vulcan rocket will replace both Atlas V and the now retired Delta IV.
Workhorse Atlas V gets fitting mission patch for milestone mission
Keeping true to the tradition of using animals as mascots for these top secret missions, this mission patch displays a blue outline of a horse behind an Atlas V rocket. The design is set against a starry background.
The design is featured on the payload fairings − which protect and cover the payload atop the rocket − and on the mission patch.
Be sure to follow the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team for the latest from Cape Canaveral.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
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