The payload fairing over the GOES-R satellite has fallen away as planned from the rocket.
Fairing Jettison
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The payload fairing over the GOES-R satellite has fallen away as planned from the rocket.
The four solid-fueled boosters on the sides of the first stage are spent and jettisoned. The rocket continues to accelerate and climb toward space. The rocket is going 5,995 mph and is 48 miles high.
The Atlas V just broke the sound barrier.
The United Launch Alliance Atlas V has cleared the tower and GOES-R is on its way into orbit!
1 minute to launch of NOAA's GOES-R.
The launch vehicle stages are on their own power.
Controllers report propellant tanks on the Atlas V are at flight pressure. Everything is go.
The GOES-R countdown is ticking toward a liftoff at 6:42 p.m. A computerized autosequencer will take over the countdown in order to conduct a host of activities in precise order.
The launch teams have been their final "go" for launch of the GOES-R spacecraft. Launch time is 6:42 p.m. EST. There are 27 engineers and controllers involved in the final polls.
The launch team is placing the controls in launch position. The solid-fueled boosters have been enabled for liftoff. This Atlas V will use four SRBs to help lift GOES-R into space.
