September 15, 2025
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Breaking News
  • [ September 15, 2025 ] Northrop Grumman’s 1st Cygnus XL spacecraft launches on cargo run to the space station Falcon 9
  • [ September 14, 2025 ] Launch preview: SpaceX to launch new, improved Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL resupply ship to the space station Falcon 9
  • [ September 13, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB Falcon 9
  • [ September 12, 2025 ] Department of the Air Force, FAA clear SpaceX to launch up to 120 Falcon 9 rockets annually from Cape Canaveral News
  • [ September 12, 2025 ] New U.S. military satellite constellation takes shape with first launch from Vandenberg SFB Falcon 9

Photos: Gantry rolled back to reveal Atlas 5 rocket for launch

September 24, 2017 Justin Ray

The mobile service tower retracts from the Atlas 5 rocket, revealing the 197-foot-tall vehicle for liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, carrying the classified NROL-42 national security payload for the U.S. government.

Credit: United Launch Alliance

See earlier NROL-42 coverage.

  • Atlas 5
  • AV-072
  • mst rollback
  • National Reconnaissance Office
  • NROL-42
  • United Launch Alliance
  • Vandenberg Air Force Base

Related Articles

Delta 4

National Reconnaissance Office to begin year’s manifest with Delta 4

February 9, 2016 Justin Ray

Beginning the National Reconnaissance Office’s campaign of four launches in 2016 using boosters big and small to deploy a varied collection of new intelligence satellites, a Delta 4 rocket stands ready for liftoff before sun-up Wednesday from California.

Atlas 5

2nd Cygnus ship in three months rockets to orbit aboard Atlas 5

March 23, 2016 Justin Ray

An Atlas 5 rocket successfully launched another Cygnus cargo freighter for Orbital ATK Tuesday night, fulfilling the booster’s role of reestablishing America’s resupply link to the International Space Station.

News

Photos: Tuesday’s Atlas 5 rollout

July 14, 2015 Justin Ray

The Atlas 5 rocket emerges from the Vertical Integration Facility for rollout to Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral in preparation to launch GPS 2F-10 on Wednesday at 11:36 a.m. EDT.

News Headlines

  • Northrop Grumman’s 1st Cygnus XL spacecraft launches on cargo run to the space station
    September 15, 2025
  • Launch preview: SpaceX to launch new, improved Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL resupply ship to the space station
    September 14, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB
    September 13, 2025
  • Department of the Air Force, FAA clear SpaceX to launch up to 120 Falcon 9 rockets annually from Cape Canaveral
    September 12, 2025
  • New U.S. military satellite constellation takes shape with first launch from Vandenberg SFB
    September 12, 2025
  • SpaceX launches Indonesian communications satellite following three days of scrubs
    September 10, 2025
  • Launch preview: Space Development Agency, SpaceX to launch next-gen national security satellites
    September 10, 2025
  • Poor weather halts SpaceX launch attempt of Indonesian communications satellite for second day in a row
    September 8, 2025
  • SpaceX passes 2,000 Starlink satellites deployed in 2025 with Saturday launch
    September 6, 2025
  • SpaceX aces 500th Falcon booster landing amid sunrise Starlink mission
    September 4, 2025
  • Home
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  • Members
    • Sign in
    • Become a member
    • Members Content
  • Live
  • Shop

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