Ecliptic News
2002 Aug 21 : Ecliptic RocketCam™ Provides Stunning Views of Inaugural Atlas 5 Launch
Two Ecliptic RocketCam™ systems have provided launch-to-orbit onboard views during the inaugural launch of the Atlas 5 rocket. The launch was a complete success, taking Eutelsat's Hotbird 6 comsat from Cape Canaveral and placing it into the desired transfer orbit. Both RocketCam™ cameras captured dramatic views looking aft: one from outside the Atlas 5's second-stage skin and one from inside the aft end of the second stage.
In the words of Don Spencer as the voice of Atlas Mission Control, "You can hear the cheering here at the Atlas Space Flight Operations Center with very, very dramatic video — stunning images from the cameras on the vehicle — showing the Common Core Booster, Atlas staging, RD-180 engine performance, MECO. You saw the engine operation from the onboard camera. We’ve got absolutely stunning images coming from these cameras!"
For more coverage of the launch, see Spaceflight Now and International Launch Services. This was the 20th consecutive Rocketcam™ success since 1997.
