Amazing Atlas V rocket launch from a plane

On May 19, 2021, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket has launched the SBIRS Geo-5 missile warning satellite for the US Space Force. Photographer Andy Lin (@otromundialista) witnessed the event aboard a plane, and published the video of the launch on her Twitter and Youtube accounts saying “My plane happened to be flying by Cape Canaveral during the Atlas V launch yesterday”.

One of the tallest and strongest rockets ever produced, Atlas V is an expendable launch system. It was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin and is now operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture with Boeing.

Each Atlas V rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage.

Atlas V is commonly used for interplanetary missions (for example, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft was launched on January 19, 2006, aboard an Atlas V rocket), military payloads, and cargo runs to the International Space Station. As of July 2018, this rocket type has had 78 launches with no complete failures, making it among the most reliable in the world.

This launch’s payload, the SBIRS Geo-5 missile warning satellite was produced by Lockheed Martin. SBIRS stands for “Space-Based Infrared Surveillance”. It is the first modernized SBIRS missile warning satellite of the US Space Force.

SBIRS system includes a combination of satellites and hosted payloads in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) and Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) and ground hardware and software. It uses infrared surveillance to provide early missile warnings for the U.S. military.

Sources

• Atlas V rocket launches SBIRS Geo-5 missile warning satellite for US Space Force on Space.com
• Space-Based Infrared Surveillance – SBIRS on the Lockheed Martin website

• Author
• Recent Posts

M. Özgür Nevres

I am a software developer and a science enthusiast. I was graduated from the Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Computer Engineering. In the past, I worked at the Istanbul Technical University Science Center as a science instructor. I write about the planet Earth and science on this website, ourplnt.com. I am also an animal lover! I take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

Latest posts by M. Özgür Nevres (see all)

• Moon Landings: All-Time List [1966-2025] - February 2, 2025
• What Is Max-Q and Why Is It Important During Rocket Launches? - January 16, 2025
• Top 10 Tallest Rockets Ever Launched [2025 Update] - January 16, 2025