Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
On September 25, 1989, an Atlas-Centaur acquired by NASA launched from Pad 36B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The payload was a Navy Fleet Satellite Communications satellite called FLTSATCOM.
This was the last launch of an uncrewed payload by NASA aboard a purchased commercially built rocket. After the Challenger accident on January 28, 1986, President Reagan directed that NASA phase out commercial launches and turn over those to the private sector.
More about the launch at this UPI article: upi.com/Archives/1989/09/25/Last-NASA-Atlas-Centaur-rocket-launched/2855622699200
Visit our web site at www.afspacemuseum.org. We're on Twitter at @afspacemuseum.
DVD_1201VHS
On September 25, 1989, an Atlas-Centaur acquired by NASA launched from Pad 36B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The payload was a Navy Fleet Satellite Communications satellite called FLTSATCOM.
This was the last launch of an uncrewed payload by NASA aboard a purchased commercially built rocket. After the Challenger accident on January 28, 1986, President Reagan directed that NASA phase out commercial launches and turn over those to the private sector.
More about the launch at this UPI article: upi.com/Archives/1989/09/25/Last-NASA-Atlas-Centaur-rocket-launched/2855622699200
Visit our web site at www.afspacemuseum.org. We're on Twitter at @afspacemuseum.
DVD_1201VHS
