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Photos: Atlas 5 powers away with NROL-61 payload

July 28, 2016 Justin Ray

Launching the secretive NROL-61 payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket thundered away from Cape Canaveral today at 8:37 a.m. EDT (1237 GMT).

Credit: United Launch Alliance

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See earlier NROL-61 coverage.

Our Atlas archive.

  • Atlas 5
  • AV-065
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  • Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
    October 25, 2025
  • SpaceX surpasses 2024 orbital launch record with Saturday Starlink mission
    October 24, 2025
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  • SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 rocket on record-breaking 31st flight
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  • SpaceX sends 28 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit in predawn launch
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