The Atlas 3A rocket, powered by new Russian-built RD-180 engine, successfully completed its maiden flight May 24 by carrying the Eutelsat W4 satellite into the proper orbit after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Fla. (SBN, May 24).
Liftoff from a new launchpad occurred at 7:10 p.m. EDT and was followed by separation of the W4 spacecraft and insertion into geosynchronous transfer orbit almost 29 minutes later.
International Launch Services, a Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT]-backed joint venture that provides launch services, achieved another milestone with this launch marking it the 50th consecutive successful launch of an Atlas rocket.
