Summary Draft 2
ATLAS V ROCKET LAUNCH SYSTEM STAGE 1
The article
"Atlas 5 launch timeline for Starliner’s Orbital Flight Test" (2019), briefly introduces Atlas
V, an expendable launch vehicle for payloads, and its launch sequence. The
launch series consists of two stages and this summary aims to explain the
functions and features which aid the first stage of launch.
According
to NASA (n.d.), the Atlas V features a common core
booster which is powered by a main engine called "RD-180", and
several additional rocket boosters. The common core booster functions to propel
the rocket. The RD-180 engine is further controlled by another feature, a
guidance computer, during launch (Clark, 2019).
The function of the solid rocket boosters
is to provide additional thrust at liftoff from its initial grounded position
and an Atlas V can hold up to 5 additional boosters (ULA, n.d.). Afterwards, it
will jettison and the rocket proceeds to the next stage of its launch sequence.
References
Clark, S 2019, ‘Atlas 5 launch timeline for Starliner’s Orbital Flight Test’, Spaceflight Now, accessed on 25 September 2021, < https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/12/19/atlas-5-launch-timeline-for-starliners-orbital-flight-test/#:~:text=The%20launch%20sequence%20begins%20with,1.6%20million%20pounds%20of%20thrust>
United Launch Alliance (n.d.), Stage 1: Atlas V Rocket, accessed on 25 September 2021, < https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/spacecraft/launch-vehicle/stage-1/>
United Launch Alliance (n.d.), Atlas V, accessed on 28 September 2021, <https://www.ulalaunch.com/rockets/atlas-v>
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