Launch December 5 Caps Year of Successes

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (12/18/00) --In the last government launch of 2000, an Atlas/Centaur rocket successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex 36A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Dec. 5, capping a year of successes for Department of Defense launches supported by The Aerospace Corporation.

"This marks a year of total success for Air Force launch programs," said John Willacker, vice president of Space Launch Operations. He pointed out that nine successes were registered this year.

The rocket carried a classified National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) spacecraft.

This was the first Air Force Atlas IIAS vehicle featuring four strap-on solid rocket boosters. It was also the first Air Force use of upgraded RL-10 engines incorporating direct-spark ignition and a 14-foot payload fairing.