Gallery: AFSPC-11 mission soars skyward
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Lifting off during the “golden hour” of photography, United Launch Alliance flew its Atlas V rocket with the AFSPC-11 mission into space. SpaceFlight Insider was able to capture vivid imagery via remote cameras on the pad and from team members on a causeway several miles away.
Liftoff took place at 7:13 p.m. EDT (23:13 GMT) April 14, 2018, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 to deliver two satellites to geostationary orbit for the United States Air Force.
The Atlas V used for the flight was in its most-powerful configuration, the “551” variant. It sported five supplemental Aerojet Rocketdyne AJ-60A solid rocket boosters, a five-meter payload fairing and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Overall, this was the eighth time this version was used. For more information, read SFI’s post-launch story here.
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The following photos were taken by the SpaceFlight Insider visual team.
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