What:           A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket is in final preparations to launch the SES-20 and SES-21 mission. The SES-20 and SES-21 mission features two twin all-electric 702SP satellites equipped with C-band payloads that will usher in the Federal Communications Commission’s 5G Fast initiative.

Where:            Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

When:             Launch is planned for Oct. 4, 2022 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Launch is planned for 5:36 p.m. EDT.

Mission details:

  • to near-circular, near-geosynchronous orbits at only 1.9 degrees of inclination. Both satellites will then use their own propulsion systems to circularize the orbits at 22,300 miles above the equator.
  • SES-20 and SES-21 will be the 96th Atlas V launch, the 80th Atlas V launch from SLC-41 and the 154th ULA mission.

Launch Vehicle details:

  • The mission will launch on an Atlas V 531 configuration rocket that stands 196 ft.

(59.7 m) tall.

  • At liftoff, the vehicle will produce 2 million pounds of thrust (9 mega-Newtons) and weigh 1,079,743 pounds (489,763 kg).
  • The spacecraft is encapsulated in the 5.4-meter diameter Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) payload fairing. OoA technology allows the fairings to weigh less while being quicker and easier to manufacture with less opportunity for defects.
  • SES-20 and SES-21 includes three Graphite Epoxy Motors (GEM) 63, provided by Northrop Grumman. The GEM 63s measure 63 inches in diameter and 66 feet in length. The GEM 63s will be ignited at the launch pad and burn for 94 seconds, consuming 97,500 pounds (44,225.2 kg) of propellant to produce 371,550 pounds (1.6 mega-Newtons) of max thrust to augment the 860,200 pounds (3.83 mega-Newtons) of thrust produced by the RD-180 main engine to power the Atlas V rocket skyward.
  • The Atlas booster for this mission is powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine.
  • Aerojet Rocketdyne provided the RL10C-1-1 engine for the Centaur upper stage.

How to stay informed:

  • The live launch broadcast begins at 5:16 p.m. EDT at www.ulalaunch.com.
  • The live launch blog start at 10:00 a.m. EDT on October 4
  • Join the conversation: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; hashtags #AtlasV #SES20 #SES21

-ULA also photo

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