The Atlas V launch scheduled for Thursday morning went off without a hitch, with the rocket brilliantly filling the Orlando sky.
The United Launch Alliance Atlas V 421 rocket launched this morning at approximately 6:29 a.m. from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The rocket is carrying the sixth and final Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit spacecraft, which is a missile detection and early warning satellite for the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command.
The spacecraft was built by Lockheed Martin using its LM 2100 Combat Bus and is an enhanced space vehicle that provides resiliency and cyber-hardening against threats, as well as improved spacecraft power, propulsion and electronics, according to ULA.
For more information on the Atlas V rocket, or other launches by the organization, visit the United Launch Alliance website.