Vandenberg AFB Prepares For Last Atlas II Launch

LAUNCH PAD

Atlas 2

by 2nd Lt. Jennifer Whitaker
for Air Force News
Vandenberg AFB - Mar 20, 2003
The last Atlas IIAS rocket scheduled to be launched arrived here March 12. A C-5 Galaxy ferried the historic booster and its Centaur upper stage from Denver, landing at the airfield here around 10:30 a.m. Lt. Col. Clinton Crosier, 2nd Space Launch Squadron commander, said the booster and upper stage would spend a week at a processing facility before being moved to Space Launch Complex-3 for stacking. The Atlas is slated to launch June 16.

Crosier said he recognizes the significance of this launch.

"The Atlas was one of the first (intercontinental ballistic missiles)," Crosier said. "John Glenn rode an Atlas into orbit in the first (U.S.) manned space program. This launch closes out the Atlas program for Vandenberg."

Capt. Ram Riojas, from the 2nd SLS, leads a 400-member team in this historic launch.

"The excitement will just grow now that the Atlas is actually here," Riojas said. "We have many people working long hours to prepare this rocket for launch."

He added that since the booster's inception at Vandenberg, people have seen about 283 Atlas launches here.

There are eight variants of the Atlas booster, and the Atlas V will continue to be used at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., Riojas said.

In 1988, the Air Force contracted General Dynamics, now Lockheed-Martin, to build the Atlas II booster for the primary mission of launching Defense Satellite Communications System payloads and commercial satellites.

This Atlas carries a classified payload to be used by the National Reconnaissance Office for national security.

"We are playing a direct role in ensuring the freedoms and liberties of the United States," Crosier said. "I tell people every day not to lose sight of how important this mission is for us because it does have national security implications."

The impressive size of this projectile belies its weak outer skin.

"The rocket is all stainless steel about the thickness of a dime," Riojas said. "We have to keep it pressurized with an inert gas like nitrogen. Otherwise, it would just collapse on itself."

He added that the booster is kept light to maximize the size of payload the Atlas IIAS can carry.

Crosier said the final Atlas launch from Vandenberg is truly historic, as the Atlas program has served the Air Force well over the years.

"As we fly this last one out, it really is kind of bittersweet," he said.

LAUNCH PAD

Boeing Delta IV Completes First Mission For U.S. Air Force

St. Louis - Mar 12, 2003
A Boeing Delta IV rocket successfully delivered to space the first satellite for the U.S. Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, or EELV program today. A Delta IV Medium launch vehicle lifted off at 7:59 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., carrying the Defense Satellite Communications System spacecraft, DSCS III A3.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.