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Breaking News
  • [ September 15, 2026 ] SpaceX launches national security payload for U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg Falcon 9
  • [ September 15, 2026 ] Avio launches pair of climate monitoring European spacecraft to study plants, oceans and atmospheric changes News
  • [ September 13, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 700th Falcon rocket, carries final 3 O3b mPOWER satellites to orbit for SES Falcon 9
  • [ September 9, 2026 ] SpaceX launches classified payload for the U.S. Space Force Falcon 9
  • [ September 5, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 80th Starlink mission of 2026 Falcon 9

Photos: More shots of Thursday’s Atlas 5 rocket launch

July 28, 2016 Justin Ray

Departing Cape Canaveral at 8:37 a.m. EDT Thursday, the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted a classified national security satellite into orbit for deployment.

Photos by Alex Polimeni/Spaceflight Now

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See earlier NROL-61 coverage.

Our Atlas archive.

  • Atlas 5
  • AV-065
  • Launch
  • National Reconnaissance Office
  • NROL-61
  • United Launch Alliance

Related Articles

Atlas 5

Atlas 5 rocket, U.S. Air Force satellite arrive at Cape Canaveral for June launch

April 26, 2019 Stephen Clark

Atlas 5 rocket hardware and a U.S. Air Force communications satellite have arrived at Cape Canaveral for United Launch Alliance’s next mission, scheduled for liftoff June 27.

Antares Launcher

Upgraded Antares rocket rolled out for launch on space station resupply mission

October 29, 2019 Stephen Clark

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket rolled out to its launch pad on Virginia’s Eastern Shore early Tuesday, setting the stage for liftoff Saturday on a resupply flight to the International Space Station that will debut an upgraded launcher and Cygnus cargo vehicle capable of hauling heavier payloads into orbit.

Atlas 5

Problem during fueling preps forces Atlas 5 launch delay

May 17, 2021 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance called off a launch attempt Monday after hitting a snag during preparations to fill an Atlas 5 rocket with cryogenic propellants at Cape Canaveral, delaying the liftoff of a new U.S. Space Force infrared surveillance satellite until no earlier than Tuesday.

News Headlines

  • SpaceX launches national security payload for U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg
    September 15, 2026
  • Avio launches pair of climate monitoring European spacecraft to study plants, oceans and atmospheric changes
    September 15, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 700th Falcon rocket, carries final 3 O3b mPOWER satellites to orbit for SES
    September 13, 2026
  • SpaceX launches classified payload for the U.S. Space Force
    September 9, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 80th Starlink mission of 2026
    September 5, 2026
  • SpaceX launches Starlink mission from West Coast
    September 1, 2026
  • Roman Space Telescope, NASA’s next ‘great observatory,’ launched
    August 29, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 27 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
    August 25, 2026
  • SpaceX launches Starlink mission on a Falcon booster’s record-breaking 37th flight
    August 24, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 100th orbital mission of 2026
    August 21, 2026
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