October 27, 2025
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Breaking News
  • [ October 26, 2025 ] Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from California Falcon 9
  • [ October 25, 2025 ] SpaceX marks 5th anniversary of first Starlink customer with Sunday satellite launch Falcon 9
  • [ October 24, 2025 ] SpaceX surpasses 2024 orbital launch record with Saturday Starlink mission Falcon 9
  • [ October 24, 2025 ] Airbus, Leonardo and Thales agree to form new European company News
  • [ October 23, 2025 ] SpaceX expends Falcon 9 booster to launch Spainsat NG 2 communications satellite Falcon 9

Photos: News media images of Atlas 5 launch

March 2, 2017 Justin Ray

Vandenberg Air Force Base in California played host to the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket that sent the NROL-79 payload into orbit Wednesday.

Photo Credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News

See earlier NROL-79 coverage.

Our Atlas archive.

  • Atlas 5
  • AV-068
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Related Articles

Atlas 5

Photos: Atlas 5 rocket receives its payload for Jan. 19 launch

January 19, 2017 Justin Ray

The third Space Base Infrared Systems Geosynchronous Earth Orbit, or SBIRS GEO Flight 3, was hoisted atop the Atlas 5 on Jan.12 to complete the pre-flight assembly of the 189-foot-tall rocket for launch.

Mission Reports

Iran fails in satellite launch attempt

February 10, 2020 Stephen Clark

Iranian government officials admitted Sunday that an attempt to place a small Earth-imaging satellite into orbit was unsuccessful, the fourth consecutive launch failure for the country’s space program.

Mission Reports

First Vulcan rocket rolls back to hangar for ‘adjustments’ prior to test-firing

May 16, 2023 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance’s first Vulcan rocket was filled with methane and liquid oxygen propellants at Cape Canaveral last week for a tanking test, but managers decided to move the rocket back inside a hangar for a few adjustments before proceeding with an engine test-firing.

News Headlines

  • Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from California
    October 26, 2025
  • SpaceX marks 5th anniversary of first Starlink customer with Sunday satellite launch
    October 25, 2025
  • SpaceX surpasses 2024 orbital launch record with Saturday Starlink mission
    October 24, 2025
  • Airbus, Leonardo and Thales agree to form new European company
    October 24, 2025
  • SpaceX expends Falcon 9 booster to launch Spainsat NG 2 communications satellite
    October 23, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites on 550th Falcon 9 mission
    October 22, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
    October 18, 2025
  • SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 rocket on record-breaking 31st flight
    October 18, 2025
  • Orion spacecraft arrives at VAB ahead of stacking for Artemis 2
    October 17, 2025
  • SpaceX sends 28 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit in predawn launch
    October 15, 2025
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