United Launch Alliance to launch Atlas V rocket into space today.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is going to launch an Atlas V rocket into space today. People can watch the process live online.
The two-stage rocket will leave the ground from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 1:42 p.m. EDT (1742 GMT), carrying along with it, a missile-warning satellite for the U.S. Space Force.
The company officials clarified through a Twitter post that the launch was initially planned to take place 7 minutes earlier, but ULA changed it “to avoid launching too close to object already in space.”
Launch Director Steve Huff has instructed the launch team to coordinate a new launch time of 1:42pmEDT (1742 UTC). The change is due to a Collision Avoidance period, or COLA, that prohibits an earlier launch time to avoid launching too close to object already in space.
— ULA (@ulalaunch) May 17, 2021
Designated Space-Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Flight 5 (SBIRS Geo-5), the mission commemorates ULA’s first launch this year. Also, the company will be launching Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule to the International Space Station this summer.
