The Atlas 5 rocket towers 19 stories over Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, ready to expend 860,000 lbs of thrust from its RD-180 main
engine (this version has no added solid rocket boosters) to take the Radiation Belt Storm Probes into orbit.
RBSP is encased inside the cone-shaped payload fairing at the top, itself over 13 feet in diameter.
| Launch vehicle: | Atlas-5/401 |
| Launch vehicle ID: | AV-032 |
| Payload: | RBSP A & B |
| Launch date: | 30 Aug 2012 |
| Launch site: | CC, SLC-41 |
Ref.: #254 - update: 22.12.12
