The modern #AtlasV #rocket, designed by #LockheedMarting and operated by the United Launch Alliance or #ULA, has been called the #DialARocket for its ability to add capacity by adding solid rocket boosters like increasing steps on a #dial.
The next-to-last stop on the “Dial” is the #Atlas V 541, with a 5 meter fairing, 4 #SRBs, and 1 engine on the #Centaur upper stage.
#NASA’s #Mars Science Laboratory #Rover #Curiosity #launched on a #ULA Atlas V 541.
This #photograph shows it leaping into the #clouds.
https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/1-atlas-v-with-msl-enters-the-clouds-heron-and-fox.html

The modern #AtlasV #rocket, designed by #LockheedMarting and operated by the United Launch Alliance or #ULA, has been called the #DialARocket for its ability to add capacity by adding solid rocket boosters like increasing steps on a #dial.
The “Dial” next goes up to 3 with the #Atlas V 431, with a 4 meter fairing, 3 #SRBs, and 1 engine on the #Centaur upper stage.
The private #comsat #EchostarXIX launched to #geostationary #orbit on a ULA Atlas V 431.
This #photograph shows it rising over the #dune at #PlayalindaBeach.
https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/atlas-v-with-echostar-xix-2-heron-and-fox.html

The modern #AtlasV #rocket, designed by #LockheedMarting and operated by the United Launch Alliance or #ULA, has been called the #DialARocket for its ability to add capacity by adding solid rocket boosters like increasing steps on a #dial.
Unfortunately, Fox (the #photographer) hasn’t covered any #launches of the #Atlas V 421 variant with only 2 #SRB’s.
But instead, please view this #photograph of the Atlas V Mobile Launch Platform #MLP and 2 of the 4 SRBs on the rocket that launched #Curiosity with #humans for #scale as they secure the MLP and disconnect the #locomotives that moved it from the #VIF.
https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/time-to-lean-heron-and-fox.html

The modern #AtlasV #rocket, designed by #LockheedMarting and operated by the United Launch Alliance or #ULA, has been called the #DialARocket for its ability to add capacity by adding solid rocket boosters like increasing steps on a #dial.
Unfortunately, Fox (the #photographer) hasn’t covered any #launches of the #Atlas V 411 variant with only 1 #SRB.
Instead, please view this #photograph of the Atlas V 401 being transported to its #launchpad on its Mobile Launch Platform #MLP.
This is the Atlas that launched #NASA’s Radiation Belt Storm Probes #RBSP, renamed to the #VanAllen Probes once in orbit, they study the Earth’s #magnetosphere.
https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/atlas-v-401-with-rbsp-on-the-move-heron-and-fox.html

The modern #AtlasV #rocket, designed by #LockheedMarting and operated by the United Launch Alliance or #ULA, has been called the #DialARocket for its ability to add capacity by adding solid rocket boosters like increasing steps on a #dial.
The “Dial” starts at 0 with the #Atlas V 401, with a 4 meter fairing, 0 #SRBs, and 1 engine on the #Centaur upper stage. This version is said to take an extremely long time to clear the pad.
The #US #DOD’s #GPS position finding system launched several of its Block IIF #satellites on ULA Atlas V 401’s, as in this #photograph where the rocket lingers over the #launch pad.
https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/atlas-v-401-with-gps-iif-rises-heron-and-fox.html