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The Mission




Rocket: Minotaur 1
Payload: NROL-66
Date: Feb. 6, 2011
Time: 4:26 a.m. local (7:26 a.m. EST)
Site: SLC-8, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

Mission Status Center

Launch story

Preview story

Photos: Minotaur rocket streaks into space

Photos: Rocket assembled and tested

Our Minotaur archive




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Minotaur rocket assembled and tested

Engineers ready the Minotaur 1 rocket for launch Saturday with a research payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, the U.S. government agency responsible for building and operating spy satellites. Liftoff will be from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force