Astronomy Picture of the Day 9-16-02

NASA ^ | 9-16-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2002 September 16 An Atlas V Rocket Prepares to Launch Credit & Copyright: Ecliptic Enterprises Corporation

Explanation: The first launch of an Atlas V rocket occurred last month. The Atlas V, built by Lockheed Martin, is the first rocket in the U. S. Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. Rockets in this program can carry increasingly heavy payloads by just adding more boosters. In fact, the only US expendable rocket capable of lifting more was the Saturn V that carried people to the Moon. Atlas rockets have a reputation for being extremely reliable -- the current launch was the 61st consecutive successful launch for an Atlas. Highlighted in the inset is the small RocketCam camera that sent back pictures from the rocket during launch.

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Fun Fact:

The first launch of an Atlas rocket occurred in 1957! In 1958, the first communication from space was broadcast from an orbiting Atlas with a recorded Christmas message from President Eisenhower.

Watch the VIDEOS from the RocketCam. Awesome!

[petuniasevan]

[GodsLittleOne]

Very Cool.

[RightWhale]

Atlas nearly became history by 1975, but a few people kept the idea alive, busily selling the rocket even when there were no customers for years. Hard work and perseverance paid off. The modern Atlas is a great bird.

[sleavelessinseattle]

I confess, I was a big Shuttle fanatic...A bit too idealistic. I just hated the thought that we'd have to keep building the rocket stages over and over...oh well...Rather than having a billion parts to go wrong maybe just disposable muscle is a better way to get to the high frontier...GET there, we MUST!!!

[Jeff Chandler]

That is one BEAUTIFUL machine!!!

[2Trievers]

I didn't know there was a Russian connection with the ILS. They have a separate launch area at the Cape for these private enterprises, if I'm not mistaken. &;-)

[MozartLover]

bump

[MeekOneGOP]

[BossyRoofer]

That rocket brings back alot of memories, being a airforce brat we saw lots of rocket launchs. Good job APOD!

[boris]

"That is one BEAUTIFUL machine!!!"

Yeah. Powered by Russian engines. All of the American aerospace workers religated to the unemployment line sure appreciate that little detail. The Atlas used to use U.S. engines.

--Boris