Atlas launches spysats, places them in wrong orbit
Posted: Fri, Jun 15, 2007, 9:43 PM ET (0143 GMT)
An Atlas 5 lifted off Friday morning carrying two classified satellites, but apparently placed the spacecraft in the wrong orbit. The Atlas 5 401 lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 11:12 am EDT (1512 GMT) carrying a classified payload officially only known as NROL-30. According to initial reports the launch went well and the payload, believed to be two naval reconnaissance satellites, separated from the Centaur upper stage as planned. However, late Friday the Air Force announced that there had been "a technical anomaly", which Aviation Week reported to be a premature shutdown of the Centaur. That problem meant that the two satellites were placed in the wrong orbit, but are otherwise functioning well and may be able to boost themselves into their correct orbit using their onboard thrusters. The cause of the problem has yet to be determined.
An Atlas 5 lifted off Friday morning carrying two classified satellites, but apparently placed the spacecraft in the wrong orbit. The Atlas 5 401 lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 11:12 am EDT (1512 GMT) carrying a classified payload officially only known as NROL-30. According to initial reports the launch went well and the payload, believed to be two naval reconnaissance satellites, separated from the Centaur upper stage as planned. However, late Friday the Air Force announced that there had been "a technical anomaly", which Aviation Week reported to be a premature shutdown of the Centaur. That problem meant that the two satellites were placed in the wrong orbit, but are otherwise functioning well and may be able to boost themselves into their correct orbit using their onboard thrusters. The cause of the problem has yet to be determined.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, February 19
More than 150 employees made redundant as rocket manufacturer officially enters administration
Inverness (UK) Courier — 6:40 am ET (1140 GMT) Orbex appoints FRP as administrators, advisory firm says
Global Banking and Finance Review — 6:39 am ET (1139 GMT) More than 150 staff facing axe as Scots manufacturing firm plunges into administration
The Sun — 6:39 am ET (1139 GMT) Scots space rocket company enters administration
STV — 6:38 am ET (1138 GMT) FRP Advisory administrators appointed to Scottish space launch company Orbex
Scottish Financial News — 6:38 am ET (1138 GMT) |
