United Launch Alliance (ULA) has successfully launched an Atlas V from Space Launch Complex-41 (SLC-41) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to loft a new Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) military reconnaissance satellite into Geostationary transfer orbit. Following a scrub on Monday, liftoff of SBIRS GEO-5 is occurred on Tuesday, 18 May at 13:37 EDT / 17:37 UTC.
The flight marks the first 2021 launch of ULA’s Atlas V rocket and the second launch made by the company this year following the April launch of NROL-82, which utilized a Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle. The Atlas V was configured in the 421 variant, meaning it utilized a four meter diameter fairing, two solid rocket boosters, and a single engine Centaur upper stage.