April 26, 2026
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Breaking News
  • [ April 26, 2026 ] SpaceX flies 25 Starlink satellites to orbit on its 50th Falcon 9 launch of the year Falcon 9
  • [ April 23, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB Falcon 9
  • [ April 21, 2026 ] SpaceX launches final GPS III satellite for the U.S. Space Force Falcon 9
  • [ April 20, 2026 ] Blue Origin launches third New Glenn rocket, but payload ends up in wrong orbit New Glenn
  • [ April 19, 2026 ] Third flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket to feature 1st reuse of booster Mission Reports

Photos: Atlas 5 rocket soars from West Coast

October 8, 2015 Justin Ray

A collection of pad photos from the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket flight carrying the NROL-55 cargo for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Photo Credit: United Launch Alliance

Launch of NROL-55, Vandenberg AFB, October8, 2015

Launch of NROL-55, Vandenberg AFB, October8, 2015

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Launch of NROL-55, Vandenberg AFB, October8, 2015

Launch of NROL-55, Vandenberg AFB, October8, 2015

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See earlier NROL-55 coverage.

Our Atlas archive.

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  • AV-058
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  • United Launch Alliance

Related Articles

Mission Reports

China launches military observation satellite

May 4, 2021 Stephen Clark

China launched an optical Earth observation satellite April 30, beginning a mission designed to provide detailed reconnaissance imagery to the Chinese military.

Mission Reports

Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches 10 small satellites

October 28, 2020 Stephen Clark

A week after scrubbing a launch attempt to evaluate an issue with an oxygen sensor, Rocket Lab launched a mission Wednesday to deliver 10 small commercial Earth observation satellites to orbit. Liftoff of the Electron booster from Rocket Lab’s spaceport in New Zealand occurred at 5:21 p.m. EDT (2121 GMT).

Mission Reports

NASA’s moon rocket scores an ‘A+‘ on critical engine test

March 18, 2021 Stephen Clark

The core piece of NASA’s first huge Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket designed to carry astronauts back to the moon fired its main engines more than eight minutes Thursday in southern Mississippi, acing a crucial test before the it ships to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to prepare for liftoff.

News Headlines

  • SpaceX flies 25 Starlink satellites to orbit on its 50th Falcon 9 launch of the year
    April 26, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB
    April 23, 2026
  • SpaceX launches final GPS III satellite for the U.S. Space Force
    April 21, 2026
  • Blue Origin launches third New Glenn rocket, but payload ends up in wrong orbit
    April 20, 2026
  • Third flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket to feature 1st reuse of booster
    April 19, 2026
  • SpaceX makes 600th Falcon booster landing during West Coast Starlink mission
    April 18, 2026
  • Blue Origin hot fires its first previously flown booster, prepares for weekend launch
    April 16, 2026
  • Blue Origin one step closer to launching New Glenn from Vandenberg Space Force Base
    April 15, 2026
  • West Coast SpaceX Falcon 9 mission launches 25 Starlink satellites
    April 15, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 1,000th Starlink satellite of 2026 on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
    April 14, 2026
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