CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – United Launch Alliance successfully sent its Atlas V rocket skyward Sunday morning from Cape Canaveral, carrying with it a payload meant to bolster U.S. “space domain awareness.”
The SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 mission lifted off at 8:47 a.m., leaving from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
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We are now in the phase of #AtlasV fueling that tops off the tanks to give us a 1,292,221-pound (586,142-kg) rocket for launch at 8:47amEDT (1247 UTC) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. https://t.co/Ai6FpF8xfx pic.twitter.com/8DrydPw6Yy
— ULA (@ulalaunch) September 10, 2023
Originally scheduled for 8:51 a.m. Saturday, the launch was scrubbed “due to an issue found during a prelaunch ordnance circuit continuity check,” according to ULA.
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The launch of a ULA #AtlasV 551 rocket carrying the #SILENTBARKER/#NROL107 mission, a joint @NatReconOfc and @SpaceForceDOD mission has been scrubbed due to an issue found during a prelaunch ordnance circuit continuity check.
— ULA (@ulalaunch) September 9, 2023
The 45th Weather Squadron had forecast a 90% chance the Cape would experience favorable weather conditions at launch time Sunday.
This mission is a collaboration of the National Reconnaissance Office and the U.S. Space Force, according to ULA. The goal is to install a new space-based sensor in order to strengthen national space domain awareness, as well as indication and warning capabilities.
SILENTBARKER/NROL107 will strengthen the NRO’s ability to provide a wide range of timely intelligence information to national decision makers, warfighters and intelligence analysts to protect the nation’s vital interests and support humanitarian efforts worldwide.
United Launch Alliance: "ATLAS V TO LAUNCH SILENTBARKER/NROL-107"
Read further into the mission, the launch vehicle and more on ULA’s website.
Watch the launch again in the video player below:
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