SFI Launch Highlights: Echostar XIX satellite on ULA Atlas V 431
United Launch Alliance conducted its final flight of the 2016 manifest on December 18. The flight of the Atlas V 431 rocket was conducted to loft the Echostar XIX communications satellite. Photo Credit: Michael Howard / SpaceFlight Insider
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — United Launch Alliance (ULA) sent an Atlas V 431 rocket into the skies above Florida on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. Carrying Echostar Corporation’s Echostar XIX satellite, the rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 2:13 p.m. EST (19:13 GMT).
SpaceFlight Insider isn’t interested in producing clickbait – we take our time to produce the highest quality product that we can. In terms of video, our remote stations are activated by computer-controlled timers. Given that we use DSLR cameras, that quality comes at a price. The camera can, generally, run for about 10-minute stretches. All it takes is one thing to throw a monkey wrench into the works.
Such was the case this past Sunday. A technical issue caused a 46-minute delay from the initial opening of the two-hour long launch window. However, redundancy ensures success and having different cameras, designed to accomplish different things, guaranteed that we didn’t come away empty-handed.
This video was captured by Mike Howard, Michael McCabe and Charles Twine with editing contributions by Derek Richardson and Jason Rhian.
Video courtesy of SpaceFlight Insider with audio segments provided by United Launch Alliance
Jason Rhian
Jason Rhian spent several years honing his skills with internships at NASA, the National Space Society and other organizations. He has provided content for outlets such as: Aviation Week & Space Technology, Space.com, The Mars Society and Universe Today.
