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  • [ October 28, 2025 ] Astrobotic delays Griffin-1 Moon mission to NET July 2026 Mission Reports
  • [ October 26, 2025 ] SpaceX breaks its California pad turnaround record with sunset Starlink launch 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
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Photos: News media images of Atlas 5 launch

September 24, 2017 Justin Ray

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket leaves Space Launch Complex 3-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on the NROL-42 satellite-deployment mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Photo credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News

See earlier NROL-42 coverage.

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

Related Articles

Atlas 5

SpaceX, ULA win military contracts, Air Force renames EELV program

March 7, 2019 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance and SpaceX recently won contracts worth $739 million to send six missions into orbit for the U.S. military, and the Air Force has announced a new title for its flagship launcher program, dropping “expendable” from the name in a new era of reusable rockets.

Atlas 5

Photos: A look back at last weekend’s Atlas 5 launch

April 20, 2018 Stephen Clark

The most powerful configuration of United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 rocket blasted off April 14 from Cape Canaveral, hauling multiple U.S. Air Force satellites to a perch high above the equator after piercing a clear evening sky over Florida’s Space Coast with 2.6 million pounds of thrust.

Delta 4

Photos: Mobile gantry rolled back to reveal Delta 4 rocket at Vandenberg

January 11, 2018 Stephen Clark

The 32-story-tall mobile service tower at the Delta 4’s launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California was retracted away from the rocket Thursday in advance of a planned liftoff with a top secret National Reconnaissance Office payload.

News Headlines

  • Astrobotic delays Griffin-1 Moon mission to NET July 2026
    October 28, 2025
  • SpaceX breaks its California pad turnaround record with sunset Starlink launch
    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
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