<b>Atlas IIIA Centaur on its first launch (May 24, 2000)</b> - An Atlas III space lift vehicle (AC-201) made its debut on May 24, 2000, in a dramatic liftoff powered by the new Russian RD-180 engine. The liftoff occurred at 7:10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, followed by successful separation of the W4 spacecraft and insertion into geosynchronous transfer orbit just under 29 minutes later. The AC-201 flight marks the first Russian rocket engine to be provided by Pratt &amp; Whitney and is the first Russian rocket engine to power an American launch vehicle. A P&amp;W upper stage engine, the RL10 (RL10A-4-1B model), powered the Atlas first single-engine Centaur configuration.
U.S. Air Force
Taken on 24 May 2000
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