United Launch Alliance set a new Atlas V turnaround record by rolling, fueling and launching the Atlas V for the Amazon Leo 6 mission within a single day, completing the turnaround in 23 days, 19 hours. The vehicle lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 8:53 p.m. EDT and carried 29 Amazon Leo satellites into low Earth orbit. The launch brings the Amazon Leo constellation to 270 satellites and was the tenth mission supporting the network. ULA said the compressed timeline will be used selectively, depending on operational needs.
ULA Achieves Fastest Atlas V Turnaround, Launches 29 Amazon Leo Satellites
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches 29 Amazon Leo satellites into orbit from Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in Florida on Monday. This launch, carrying 29 satellites on board, is the sixth of nine missions planned for the constellation. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
United Launch Alliance (ULA) completed its second Atlas V launch of April on Monday night, achieving the fastest turnaround between Atlas V missions in the vehicle's history. The Amazon Leo 6 mission lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 8:53 p.m. EDT and delivered 29 Amazon Leo satellites to low Earth orbit.
The Atlas V flew on a northeasterly trajectory after liftoff. The mission marked the 108th Atlas V flight and the 100th Atlas V mission conducted by ULA.
Faster Turnaround Through Compressed Prelaunch Campaign
ULA credited the accelerated cadence to a revised prelaunch procedure that compressed tasks normally spread across two days into a single-day pad flow. For this mission, the company rolled the vehicle to the pad Monday morning and lowered the Mobile Launch Platform onto the pad piers at 7:19 a.m. EDT, completed fueling later that day, and launched the same evening.
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches 29 Amazon Leo satellites into orbit from Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in Florida on Monday. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
"The ULA team will be divided into two shifts -- the Roll and Preps Crew and the Tanking and Launch Crew -- to perform all the tasks that normally are spread across two days," ULA said in its launch blog. "Not all future launches will use this compressed timeline. Operational considerations and other factors will determine which missions can employ the strategy."
ULA's previous Atlas V turnaround record was 26 days, 5 hours and 19 minutes. The new turnaround measured 23 days and 19 hours, shaving three days off the earlier mark.
Progress For Amazon Leo (Formerly Project Kuiper)
Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, is a low Earth orbit broadband constellation designed to bring reliable internet access to customers and communities beyond the reach of existing networks. With this 29-satellite deployment complete, the Amazon Leo constellation now totals 270 satellites in orbit. This mission was the sixth dedicated Amazon Leo flight and the tenth launch supporting the constellation overall, including launches on SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets and an Arianespace vehicle. The full starting constellation is planned to include more than 3,200 satellites.
Other Launch Activity
Separately on Monday morning, SpaceX scrubbed a Falcon Heavy launch of the Viasat-3 F3 mission due to unfavorable weather. The company posted that the vehicle and payload remained healthy and that a new target date would be shared once confirmed.
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