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Photos: News media images of Atlas 5 launch
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California played host to the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket that sent the NROL-79 payload into orbit today.
Photos: Atlas 5 delivers success on 70th Launch
For its 70th launch in 14 years, the Atlas 5 rocket carried the NROL-79 payload into space for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Atlas 5 powers covert reconnaissance payload to orbit on its 70th mission
Performing a successful spacelift mission for the U.S. spy satellite agency, an Atlas 5 rocket delivered a surveillance package into orbit today believed by analysts to be another pair of tandem sleuths to scoop up radio signals from adversarial ships at sea.
Video: NROL-79 launch aboard Atlas 5
The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, standing 191 feet tall and and weighing 720,000 pounds, unleashes 860,000 pounds of thrust from its main engine at 9:49:51 a.m. local time today to launch the secret NROL-79 payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
Photos: Pad gantry rolled back to reveal Atlas 5 for launch
The mobile service tower retracts from the Atlas 5 rocket, revealing the 191-foot-tall vehicle for liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, carrying the classified NROL-79 national security payload for the U.S. government.
VideoTimeline: Atlas 5/NROL-79 launch events
Follow the unclassified portion of the Atlas 5 rocket’s ascent to space from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base launch site with the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-79 satellite payload. Launch is scheduled for Wednesday at 9:50 a.m. local time (12:50 p.m. EST; 1750 GMT).
Photos: Atlas 5 rocket ready to fly with NROL-79 payload
The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket stands atop Space Launch Complex 3-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on the eve of Wednesday's NROL-79 satellite-deployment mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Preview: Atlas 5 to provide spacelift for U.S. National Reconnaissance Office
Taking a U.S. national security satellite payload into space is the primary objective of the 70th Atlas 5 booster that will be launched Wednesday.
Delta 4 receives communications satellite payload for launch into space
A military communications satellite, built with international funding from Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and New Zealand, has been stacked atop a Delta 4 rocket to launch into a worldwide information-relay network operated by the U.S.
Commercial space cargo ship’s ride to orbit assembled for March 19 launch
An Atlas 5 booster core and Centaur upper stage have been stacked to launch another commercial freighter with supplies and scientific research gear to the International Space Station next month.