On late Tuesday night, the Atlas V launched successfully into orbit for the 62nd consecutive time without a failure. This was also the 106th straight successful launch for the United Launch Alliance (ULA). This rocket has been in the news off late, unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. It has been criticised for not being very cost effective and for its engine that has been foreign-made. So much so that its disapproval got caught up in a congressional fight and has resulted in a high-profile Pentagon investigation.

Senator John McCain has argued that the United States should not have to rely on the Russians to launch national security payloads, such as communications and intelligence satellites, at a time when there is tension between the two countries. This sparked off a controversy because these comments really weren't appreciated by ULA.

All this, while the Atlas V has made another successful launch unaware of anything going on back home.