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Delta 4-Heavy rocket launches U.S. spy satellite into unusual orbit
A top secret surveillance payload owned by the National Reconnaissance Office soared into space Saturday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on top of a United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket, entering an unusual orbit not previously used by the U.S. government's spy satellite fleet.
VideoLive coverage: Delta 4-Heavy launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base
United Launch Alliance's Delta 4-Heavy rocket lifted off at 11:10 a.m. PST (2:10 p.m. EST; 1910 GMT) Saturday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, after a month-long delay to troubleshoot a hydrogen leak in one of its boosters. The heavy-lifter was on a mission to send a U.S. government spy satellite into orbit.
First of up to seven ULA launches this year set for Saturday
The first of up to seven missions planned on United Launch Alliance's Atlas and Delta rocket fleets this year is scheduled for Saturday from California's Central Coast, when a Delta 4-Heavy is set for blastoff on a spy satellite delivery flight delayed a month to troubleshoot a hydrogen fuel leak in a booster.
Delta 4-Heavy launch with spy satellite pushed back to January
After unusual concentrations of hydrogen around the rocket foiled a launch attempt Dec. 19, United Launch Alliance said Friday that the company's powerful Delta 4-Heavy launcher and a U.S. government spy satellite will remain grounded in California until at least Jan. 6 as engineers troubleshoot a small fuel leak.
Delta 4-Heavy countdown aborted moments before launch
A dramatic automatic abort 7.5 seconds before the planned liftoff of a United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket Saturday night kept the towering launcher on the pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, with a top secret spy payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Photos: Delta 4-Heavy poised for launch with U.S. spy satellite
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket stands 233 feet tall at Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, ready for liftoff Saturday night carrying a top secret U.S. government spy satellite into orbit.
VideoLive coverage: Delta 4-Heavy launch scrubbed again
United Launch Alliance called off the planned liftoff of a Delta 4-Heavy rocket and a classified National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Wednesday after indications of elevated hydrogen concentrations around one of the launcher's main engines. Three previous launch attempts were scrubbed by technical concerns and bad weather.
Atlas 5 rocket begins arriving in Florida for commercial crew test flight
The Centaur upper stage destined to send Boeing's CST-100 Starliner crew capsule into orbit on its first unpiloted test flight next year has arrived at Cape Canaveral after a sea journey aboard United Launch Alliance's Mariner transport ship.
Photos: Atlas 5 rocket lifts off with Air Force’s AEHF 4 satellite
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket fired into the night sky over Cape Canaveral just after midnight Wednesday, carrying the U.S. Air Force's fourth AEHF communications satellite designed to enable secure voice, video and data links between U.S. and allied forces.
Air Force’s fourth AEHF communications satellite successfully launched from Florida
A $1.8 billion U.S. Air Force communications satellite rode a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket into orbit Wednesday from Cape Canaveral, joining three similar craft perched more than 22,000 miles above Earth to ensure government leaders can remain in contact with military commanders in the worst-case scenario of nuclear war.