Name: Rainbow 1 — Atlas V 521
Start: 2003-07-17T23:45:01Z
End: 2003-07-17T23:45:01Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 41

Question 1

What rocket is launching Rainbow 1?

Accepted Answer

Rainbow 1 is launching on the Atlas V 521.

Question 2

Who is launching Rainbow 1?

Accepted Answer

Rainbow 1 is being launched by Lockheed Martin, a commercial launch provider founded in 1953.

Question 3

Where is Rainbow 1 launching from?

Accepted Answer

Rainbow 1 is launching from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.

Question 4

What orbit is Rainbow 1 heading to?

Accepted Answer

Rainbow 1 is heading to Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO).

Question 5

Is the Atlas V 521 reusable?

Accepted Answer

No — the Atlas V 521 is an expendable launch vehicle.

Question 6

How many times has the Atlas V 521 flown?

Accepted Answer

The Atlas V 521 has launched 2 times to date, with 2 successful flights.

Question 7

What is the Rainbow 1 mission?

Accepted Answer

Rainbow 1 is a high power Ku-band direct broadcasting satellite providing direct broadcast services across the continental United States.

Question 8

Where is Cape Canaveral Space Force Station?

Accepted Answer

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station sits on Florida's Atlantic coast, on the Eastern Range run by the U.S. Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45. It is the United States' busiest launch site and has been America's gateway to orbit since the 1950s.

Question 9

Which rockets launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

SpaceX flies Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40, and United Launch Alliance flies the Vulcan Centaur (and the retiring Atlas V) from Space Launch Complex 41.

Question 10

Is Cape Canaveral the same as the Kennedy Space Center?

Accepted Answer

No. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center are separate, neighbouring sites — Kennedy is on Merritt Island just to the north. Together they make up Florida's 'Space Coast'.

Question 11

Why do rockets launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

Its pads sit on the Eastern Range, letting rockets fly east out over the Atlantic toward the equatorial and geostationary orbits most commercial and national-security payloads need, away from populated land.

Question 12

Can you watch a launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Space Coast is one of the easiest places in the world to watch a launch from public land. Popular free spots include Playalinda Beach, Space View Park in Titusville, and Jetty Park at Port Canaveral.

Rainbow 1

Overview

Mission details

Launch Window

Space Launch Complex 41

Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Frequently asked questions