An Atlas III space lift vehicle, the newest rocket to fly from the historic Complex 36 launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fl., made its debut on 24 May 2000 in a dramatic liftoff powered by the new Russian RD-180 engine. The liftoff occurred at 7:10 Eastern Daylight Time, followed by successful separation of the W4 spacecraft and insertion into geosynchronous transfer orbit just under 29 minutes later. The AC-201 flight marks the first Russian rocket engine to be provided by Pratt & Whitney and is the first Russian rocket engine to power an American launch vehicle. A P&W upp
An Atlas III space lift vehicle, the newest rocket to fly from the historic Complex 36 launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fl., made its debut on 24 May 2000 in a dramatic liftoff powered by the new Russian RD-180 engine. The liftoff occurred at 7:10 Eastern Daylight Time, followed by successful separation of the W4 spacecraft and insertion into geosynchronous transfer orbit just under 29 minutes later. The AC-201 flight marks the first Russian rocket engine to be provided by Pratt & Whitney and is the first Russian rocket engine to power an American launch vehicle. A P&W upper stage engine, the RL10 (RL10A-4-1B model), powered the Atlas first single-engine Centaur configuration. (Courtesy Photo)
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Photo credit: © PJF Military Collection / Alamy / Afripics
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Keywords: air, airforce, force, military, states, united, usa
