January 27, 2026
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Breaking News
  • [ January 26, 2026 ] Live coverage: SpaceX to launch GPS 3 satellite following switch from ULA Vulcan rocket Falcon 9
  • [ January 25, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 25 Starlink satellites to polar, low Earth orbit Falcon 9
  • [ January 23, 2026 ] Eastern Range ready for same day fueling of Space Launch System, Vulcan rockets Mission Reports
  • [ January 21, 2026 ] SpaceX launches first West Coast Starlink mission of 2026 Falcon 9
  • [ January 18, 2026 ] SpaceX launches Sunday sunset Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral 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

Live coverage: Delta 4-Heavy countdown halted in final seconds

September 28, 2020 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance scrubbed the launch of a Delta 4-Heavy rocket Wednesday night less than 10 seconds before liftoff from Cape Canaveral, the second such abort suffered by this mission.. The launch of a classified National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite is expected to be delayed at least several more days as engineers assess the cause of Wednesday’s last-minute abort.

Delta 4

ULA targeting Sept. 26 for next Delta 4-Heavy launch attempt

September 17, 2020 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance said Thursday it is targeting Sept. 26 for the next attempt to send a classified U.S. government spy satellite into orbit aboard a Delta 4-Heavy rocket, following an abort Aug. 29 just three seconds before liftoff from Cape Canaveral.

Atlas 5

A month to remember for ULA and the Atlas 5 rocket

November 1, 2015 Justin Ray

Four weeks, three launches, two coasts. October was an unprecedented month for United Launch Alliance and its venerable workhorse rocket.

News Headlines

  • Live coverage: SpaceX to launch GPS 3 satellite following switch from ULA Vulcan rocket
    January 26, 2026
  • SpaceX launches 25 Starlink satellites to polar, low Earth orbit
    January 25, 2026
  • Eastern Range ready for same day fueling of Space Launch System, Vulcan rockets
    January 23, 2026
  • SpaceX launches first West Coast Starlink mission of 2026
    January 21, 2026
  • SpaceX launches Sunday sunset Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral
    January 18, 2026
  • NRO, SpaceX launch reconnaissance satellites from Vandenberg
    January 16, 2026
  • Crew 11 safely splashes down after shortened mission
    January 15, 2026
  • NASA, SpaceX conduct ‘medical evacuation’ Crew-11 return to Earth
    January 14, 2026
  • SpaceX breaks pad turnaround record at Cape Canaveral with midday Starlink launch
    January 14, 2026
  • U.S. Space Force switches rockets for upcoming GPS satellite launch
    January 13, 2026
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  • Live
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