Vandenberg to launch Atlas V Feb. 11

Release Number: 010213

2/8/2013 - VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.  -- Team Vandenberg is scheduled to launch a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a NASA payload from Space Launch Complex-3 here, Feb. 11 between 10:02 and 10:50 a.m., Pacific Standard Time.

Col. Nina Armagno, 30th Space Wing commander, is the launch decision authority.

"Our team and our mission partners have put a lot of hard work into preparing for this launch," said Armagno. "We are looking forward to a second successful launch of the new year."

Vandenberg's 4th Space Launch Squadron is in final preparations for launch with Vandenberg's mission partners including ULA, Orbital Sciences Corp. and NASA.

"The 200 foot-tall rocket is completely assembled at the launch pad, including the NASA satellite, named Landsat Data Continuity Mission," said Lt. Col. Ram Riojas, Air Force launch director for this mission. "This upcoming launch will be the 6th Atlas V rocket launched from Vandenberg and is part of the squadron's on-going record-high ops tempo: processing four launch missions at the same time."

The 4th SLS was formed in 1994 to support Titan missions at Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-3, and then re-chartered in 2003 to operate the Atlas V and Delta IV launch systems. Today, the squadron executes Western Range Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle spacelift operations with a combined team of engineers, space operators, program managers and missile maintenance technicians. The squadron's core competencies include mission assurance, launch campaign integration, system sustainment and launch operations, each of which is critical to a safe and successful launch.

NASA's most recent Vandenberg launch on an Atlas rocket was onboard an Atlas IIAS in 1999.

"NASA is a great customer to work with," said Capt. T.J. Dinkelman, 4th SLS Launch
Mission manager. "Everything has gone smoothly up to this point and we expect nothing more than a successful launch."