Congrats ULA!
Yeah, some wicked photos by Pat.
38 for 39
Not according to ULA or their customers.
Isn't it 31 for ULA (8 for Lockheed)?
ATK Composite, Propulsion and Spacecraft Technologies Help Launch MUOS-2 Satellite
ATK Supports the Launch of United Launch Alliance's Atlas V
ARLINGTON, Va., July 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) provided critical hardware for both the second satellite in the Navy's Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), designated MUOS-2, and the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V launch vehicle that launched today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
MUOS is the next generation in narrowband tactical satellite communications systems. The MUOS constellation, for which Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor, will provide mobile warfighters with significantly improved and secure communications.
"ATK's continued involvement in the successful Atlas V missions is a source of great pride to our workforce," said Joy de Lisser, vice president and general manager of ATK Aerospace Structures division. "Our ongoing support of ULA missions is a critical element of our business, and we are proud to provide tactical support for the U.S warfighter."
Using advanced fiber placement manufacturing and automated inspection techniques, ATK produced three components for the ULA Atlas V vehicle, including the 10-foot diameter composite heat shield that provides essential protection to the first stage engine, the Centaur Interstage Adapter (CISA) that houses the second stage engine, and the boattail that adapts from the core vehicle to the five-meter diameter fairing. The structures were fabricated by ATK at its Iuka, Miss., facility. This is the 39th Atlas V launch using ATK-built composite structures.
The Atlas V rocket flew in the 551 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, five solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. ATK manufactured the Reaction Control System propellant tank for the Atlas V at its Commerce, Calif., facility.
This flight marked the fourth successful flight of the ATK retro motors. Eight of these solid motors supported separation of the spent first stage. The Atlas retrorocket is built at ATK's Elkton, Md., facility.
For the MUOS-2 satellite, ATK provided multiple components and structures:
The spacecraft bus structure, multi-beam antenna support structure, antenna reflectors and tower structures, solar array substrates, yokes and booms were manufactured at ATK's San Diego, Calif., facility.
ATK's Magna, Utah, facility manufactured five-meter and 14-meter antenna payload structures.
The company's Goleta, Calif., facility manufactured the spacecraft's solar array hinges.
The propellant and pressurant tanks for the spacecraft propulsion system were designed and manufactured at ATK's Commerce, Calif., facility.
ATK's Beltsville, Md., facility provided the radiator panels and heat pipes.
The MUOS-2 is the second satellite in the MUOS system, which is scheduled to be a five-satellite, global constellation expected to be fully operational by 2015. MUOS satellites provide a 16x increase in number of accesses over the current Ultra High Frequency (UHF) satellite system requirement.
For those who want to watch the entire video coverage:
ULA Atlas V 551 DoD MUOS 2 Launch Coverage
Thanks for the coverage all, they really make it look easy. Atlas launches never get old to me.
Thanks for the coverage. It certainly tore off the launch pad.
Welcome to the forum! Great photo and audio, thanks for sharing! 
Thank you! Glad to be here!
And here's my view from KARS park.
Apparently this is a photo of the launch shot from the window of an airplane (shades of the STS-134 launch isn't it?): http://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1iodrz/my_friend_is_an_airline_pilot_he_was_startled_by/
Is it? The cloud cover doesn't seem to match, and I would have expected a more significant gravity turn at that point - but I could be wrong.
Definitely not STS-134. What you're probably seeing is the angle the picture was taken is directly in line with the track of the rocket. That is to say, it looks like it's going straight up when it's going east. And the cloud pattern looks right from where I was from my perspective during the launch.
Here's STS-134, for example.
isn't it a little odd to wait this far into check-out to deploy antennas?
http://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2013/11/21/harris-corporation-unfurlable-mesh-antenna-reflectors-deployed-successfully-on-muos-satellite/?hq_e=el&hq_m=2788773&hq_l=6&hq_v=8a70760939[Via Satellite 11-21-13] Two unfurlable mesh antenna reflectors developed by Harris Corporation have successfully deployed onboard the second U.S. Navy Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite built by Lockheed Martin.
The MUOS satellite will provide military users with 16 times more narrowband tactical satellite communications capability than existing UHF satellites, making voice, video and data connections more accessible. The satellite was launched on July 19, 2013 from Cape Canaveral Florida onboard an Atlas 5 rocket. This is the second of five MUOS satellites scheduled for deployment.
Harris is scheduled to build 10 reflectors for the MUOS constellation. Each satellite will use two different reflectors. The first is 14 meters in diameter for the purpose of multiple-beam operation in order to increase the amount of traffic the system can support. The second is 5.4 meters and will be used for legacy operations. Harris will secure the gold mesh reflectors to the satellite with precision booms.
Harris also is playing a central role in developing tactical radio terminals that will provide MUOS satellite communications capability to the end-user. MUOS capability will initially be provided via a software upgrade to the Harris Falcon IIIAN/PRC-117G manpack radio platform. Of the Harris wideband radios already deployed to users, more than 30,000 are ready to host the MUOS waveform software.
which is my carrier BTW
which is my carrier BTW