Rocket & Space Shuttle Launches 2007

On this page, you will find details of rocket and space shuttle launches for 2007.

See bottom of page for all past, present and future launch schedules.

Launches in 2007

December 10, 2007 – United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket, NROL-24

The Atlas 5 will launch a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office from launch pad SLC-41. Delayed from September 6, October 5, October 25 and November 7.

November 11, 2007 – United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy, DSP 23

The United Launch Alliance (Boeing) Delta 4-Heavy rocket launched the final (23rd) Defense Support Program missile-warning satellite from launch pad SLC-37B.

This is only the second flight of the Delta 4-Heavy version.

The launch had been delayed from January 31 and then again March 15 after cracks were found in the launch pad). Launch time was 8:50 pm EST after an 11 minute delay.

October 23, 2007 – Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-120 (ISS 10A)

Delayed from August 9, September 7 and October 20, this mission was originally planned for Atlantis. Launch time was been set for 11:38 am EST from pad LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

The 23rd mission to the International Space Station delivered the U.S. Node 2 connecting module which will link to various laboratories and the Sidewall – Power and Data Grapple Fixture (PDGF). Despite problems with one of the solar panels, the mission was a great success.

October 17, 2007 – United Launch Alliance Delta 2 Rocket, GPS 2R-17

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 launched the fourth NAVSTAR GPS Block 2R military navigation satellite from launch pad SLC-17.

Launch time was exactly on schedule at 8:23 am EDT.

October 10, 2007 – United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket, WGS F1 (AV-011)

The Atlas 5 (AV-011) mission is to launch the first of five Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft (WGS F1) for the US military. The Atlas 5 launched from pad SLC-41 at 8:22 pm EDT.

September 27, 2007 – United Launch Alliance Delta 2 Rocket, Dawn

The Dawn spacecraft is going to use an ion propulsion system to visit and orbit the asteroids Vesta and Ceres. In March 2006 NASA cancelled and then re-instated the mission but as a result, launch was originally put back to July 2007, then rescheduled for late 2006 before ending up back in July 2007. Various factors then resulted in the launch being pushed back until September. Lift off was from launchpad SLC-17B but the launch was delayed by one day.

August 8, 2007 – Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-118 (ISS 13A.1)

Delayed from June 11 and June 28, launch date was then moved from August 9 to August 7 and then back to August 8. Launch time has been set for 6:36 pm EST from pad LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

The 22nd mission to the International Space Station will deliver and attach the third starboard truss (Integrated Truss Structure S5). It will also deliver a Spacehab Single Cargo Module containing supplies and equipment and the External Stowage Platform 3 (ESP3).

August 4, 2007 – United Launch Alliance Delta 2 Rocket, Phoenix

Phoenix is the first of the new scout missions to land on Mars to try and uncover clues about the Martian arctic soil and the potential for habitation using a robotic arm.

Phoenix launched from launch pad SLC-17A at 5:26 am EST.

June 14, 2007 – United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket, NROL-30 (AV-009)

Launch time was set for 9:00 am EST.

The Atlas 5 (AV-009) mission is to launch a classified NROL-30 payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office from launch pad SLC-41. Delayed from May 3 and 18.

June 8, 2007 – Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-117 (ISS 13A)

Originally scheduled for December 2006, then February 2007 and then March 15, 2007, launch was put on hold until NASA completed the repair to the damage caused to the external fuel tank by a hail storm.

The Launch window was set from June 8 to July 18 and Atlantis lifted off at 06:20 am EST from pad LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center on June 8.

The flight was the 21st mission to the International Space Station. The flight delivered and attached the next starboard truss segment to the station (Integrated Truss Structure S3/S4) and the associated set of power-generating solar arrays and batteries.

March 8, 2007 – Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 Rocket, STP-1

The launch was delayed from December 7, 2006 to avoid a clash with the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-116 and then January 18 and February 22, 2007. Launch time was at 10:10 pm EST from launch pad SLC-41.

The Atlas 5 (AV-013) rocket has deployed six separate satellites including the Orbital Express demonstration spacecraft prototype satellite repair robot as part of the United States Air Force Space Test Program-1.

February 17, 2007 – United Launch Alliance Delta 2 Rocket, THEMIS

Launch time had been set for 6:17 to 6:36 pm EST on Thursday but high upper level winds delayed the launch until Saturday at 6:01 pm.

THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) consists of five identical satellites with instruments to study the Earth’s magnetosphere to try and work out what triggers geomagnetic substorms and is the first launch by the new combined company, United Launch Alliance (Boeing and Lockheed Martin) from the Cape.

It is hoped they will monitor more than 30 substorms during their two year mission which is part of NASA’s Explorer Program.