This cluster of palm trees at SLC-40 finds its way into many pad shots. It's sort of iconic in the world of launch photography. This was the 2nd time SpaceX launched one of the next-gen GPS satellites for the US Space Force on the afternoon of 6/30/20. The satellite was deployed about 1.5 hours after liftoff, and go into service once all checkouts are complete.
Kennedy Space Center sit right on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, so opportunities to see wild animals sharing the space with rockets are frequent.
The US Air Force AEHF-5 satellite begins its journey to space atop an Atlas V 551 (the most powerful configuration of an Atlas V). With an RD-180 core engine and 5 solid rocket boosters, it takes no time at all to get where it’s going.
