Atlas SOHO Booster and Centaur Erection

Abstract

The launch vehicle for the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission is a two stage Atlas-IIAS (Atlas/Centaur). The Atlas, consists of a solid rocket booster stage powered by four Thiokol Castor IVA solid rocket boosters (SRB) and a core vehicle stage (booster and sustainer) powered by Rocketdyne MA-5A liquid propellant engines (RP-1 fuel and liquid oxygen). The multiple firing Centaur is powered by two Pratt and Whitney (RL10A-4) liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen engines with extendible nozzles. This video shows the erection of the Atlas booster and transportation (to 36-B launching pad) and erection of the Centaur.