Atlas II/Centaur rocket - Atlas II

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla.—An Atlas II/Centaur rocket carrying the NASA/NOAA weather satellite GOES-L lifts off. The primary objective of the GOES-L is to provide a full capability satellite in an on-orbit storage condition, in order to assure NOAA continuity in services from a two-satellite constellation. Launch services are being provided by the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. Atlas II is a member of the Atlas family of launch vehicles which evolved from the successful Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program. It is designed to launch payloads into low earth orbit, geosynchronous transfer orbit or geosynchronous orbit. (Courtesy photo)