spacetoday.net: Atlas launches communications satellite on ULA's 100th mission

Atlas launches communications satellite on ULA's 100th mission

Posted: Sat, Oct 3, 2015, 10:12 AM ET (1412 GMT)
Atlas 5 launch of Morelos-3 (ULA)

An Atlas 5 rocket launched a Mexican communications satellite Friday on the 100th mission carried out by United Launch Alliance. The Atlas 5 421 lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 6:28 am EDT (1028 GMT) carrying the Morelos-3 satellite. The rocket's Centaur upper stage released the satellite into geostationary transfer orbit nearly three hours later. The Boeing-built spacecraft will provide mobile communications services across Mexico for the country's Ministry of Communications and Transportation. The launch, a rare commercial mission for the Atlas, was the 100th launch carried out by ULA since the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture started operations in late 2006.