National Reconnaissance Office

Photos: Delta 4 blasts off from Vandenberg’s historic SLC-6 launch pad

January 16, 2018

A United Launch Delta 4 rocket lifted off Friday from the SLC-6 launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, powering into orbit from a historic seaside complex originally developed for crewed missions.

Delta 4 rocket successfully lofts clandestine NRO satellite into orbit

January 13, 2018

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket climbed into orbit Friday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California with a top secret spy satellite, adding a new set of eyes in the sky for the U.S. government’s intelligence community and nudging part of the Delta 4 family closer to retirement.

Watch a replay of the Delta 4 NROL-47 launch

January 12, 2018

Watch a replay of the United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket launching from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, hauling into orbit a new eye in the sky for the National Reconnaissance Office.

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

January 11, 2018

The 32-story-tall mobile service tower at the Delta 4’s launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California was retracted away from the rocket Thursday in advance of a planned liftoff with a top secret National Reconnaissance Office payload.

Live coverage: Delta 4 launches from California with spy satellite

January 10, 2018

United Launch Alliance kicked off its 2018 launch campaign with a Delta 4 rocket flight at 2:11 p.m. PST (5:11 p.m. EST; 2211 GMT) Friday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Gusty winds forced officials to call off a launch attempt Wednesday, and technical problems halted a countdown Thursday multiple times. The Delta 4 launched with a top secret spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Delta 4 rocket, clandestine spy satellite ready for liftoff from California

January 9, 2018

Technicians are putting the final touches on a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket set for liftoff Thursday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, a military base on California’s Central Coast, with a top secret spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Classified payload hoisted atop Delta 4 rocket at Vandenberg

December 29, 2017

A clandestine satellite owned by the National Reconnaissance Office has been raised atop its United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, for liftoff Jan. 10.

Delta 4 launch from California slips to January

December 6, 2017

The launch of a top secret National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California has been pushed back from Dec. 13 until no earlier than Jan. 10 to complete software validation on the Delta 4 rocket’s new avionics system, United Launch Alliance announced Wednesday.

Photos: News media shots of the NROL-52 liftoff

October 15, 2017

Cape Canaveral was the point of origination for the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket and the classified NROL-52 payload.

Photos: Atlas 5 rocket powers NROL-52 payload to space

October 15, 2017

The Atlas 5 rocket blasts off from Cape Canaveral for its pre-dawn ascent to deploy the NROL-52 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.