CAPE CANAVERAL Air Station, Fla., Oct. 9, 1998 – A Lockheed Martin Astronautics Atlas IIA rocket successfully launched the HOT BIRD 5 television broadcast satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit this evening from Complex 36, Pad B. Liftoff occurred at 6:50 p.m. EDT. It was the fifth successful Atlas launch of 1998 from Cape Canaveral Air Station and the 40th consecutive successful flight.
