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Breaking News
  • [ July 4, 2026 ] Semiconductor manufacturing test bed flies alongside Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 launch Falcon 9
  • [ July 1, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB Falcon 9
  • [ June 30, 2026 ] Astronauts ‘operate’ on space station’s broken robot arm Mission Reports
  • [ June 30, 2026 ] Blue Origin outlines return to flight logistics for its New Glenn rockets Moon Base
  • [ June 28, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 7.5-ton SiriusXM satellite as part of constellation refresh Falcon 9

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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Related Articles

Mission Reports

Live coverage: New configuration of India’s PSLV launches for first time

April 1, 2019 Stephen Clark

India debuted a new configuration of its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, featuring four strap-on boosters and an upper stage with solar arrays to generate electrical power, with a liftoff at 0357 GMT Monday (11:57 p.m. EDT Sunday). The mission lofted an Indian military satellite and 28 nanosatellites for companies in the United States, Lithuania, Spain and Switzerland.

News

Chinese TV broadcasting satellite reaches operational orbit after off-target launch

July 13, 2017 Stephen Clark

The Chinasat 9A communications satellite has arrived at its operational perch more than 22,000 miles over the equator after a Long March rocket deployed the craft in a lower-than-planned orbit last month due to a roll control error in the launcher’s third stage, according to China’s top state-owned aerospace contractor.

Mission Reports

Video: Starship stacked atop Super Heavy booster ahead of first launch attempt

April 15, 2023 Stephen Clark

This time-lapse video shows the “chopstick” mechanism lifting the Starship atop the Super Heavy booster Saturday ahead of the inaugural test flight of the fully-stacked rocket from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in South Texas.

News Headlines

  • Semiconductor manufacturing test bed flies alongside Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 launch
    July 4, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB
    July 1, 2026
  • Astronauts ‘operate’ on space station’s broken robot arm
    June 30, 2026
  • Blue Origin outlines return to flight logistics for its New Glenn rockets
    June 30, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 7.5-ton SiriusXM satellite as part of constellation refresh
    June 28, 2026
  • SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base
    June 28, 2026
  • West Coast Falcon 9 launch continues expansion of SpaceX’s Starlink network
    June 24, 2026
  • NASA, Boeing committed to Starliner-1 launch despite unclear timeline
    June 23, 2026
  • SpaceX launches reentry capsule demo mission called ‘Starfall’
    June 23, 2026
  • NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope arrives in Florida
    June 22, 2026
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