Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — A rocket carrying a classified U.S. satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office has been launched from California.
The Atlas 5 rocket lifted off at 9:49 a.m. Wednesday and roared away into a clear sky over Vandenberg Air Force Base.
All systems were going well when the launch webcast concluded about five minutes into the flight, as is customary during such missions.
The satellite dubbed NROL-79 is described only as a national security payload for the NRO.
The once-secret office operates an array of intelligence-gathering satellites.
The launch was conducted by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and the Air Force's 30th Space Wing.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
