Atlas V launches classified mission from California
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket has blasted off for the second time in less than a week, this time from California's Central Coast.
The rocket lifted off at 5:49 a.m. PDT (8:49 a.m. EDT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base, carrying a classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Amateur spacecraft observers speculated that the rocket was carrying a pair of satellites updating the Naval Ocean Surveillance System, or NOSS.
Because of the secret payload, ULA ended its launch Webcast after the Atlas booster completed its work, the payload fairing separate, and the Centaur upper stage engine began firing.
"This launch was an great achievement for Team Vandenberg, ULA, NRO and our launch partners," said Col. J. Christopher Moss, commander of the 30th Space Wing. "Their outstanding professionalism and team work ensured a fantastic launch and I am proud to work with this team of experts in support of national defense."
ULA delivers Mexican satellite to orbit on 100th launch
In addition to the primary mission, the Centaur will deliver a group of 13 experimental and student-developed CubeSats to orbit.
The tiny spacecraft include nine missions sponsored by the NRO and four by NASA. Kennedy Space Center's Launch Services Program was responsible for securing the ride for the NASA-sponsored payloads known as ElaNA-12.
A successful launch would keep ULA on track to return to Cape Canaveral for an Oct. 30 launch of the Air Force's next Global Positioning System satellite on an Atlas V. The booster for that mission was delivered to the Cape on Tuesday.
An Atlas V last Friday successfully delivered Mexico's Morelos-3 communications satellite to orbit, completing ULA's 100th launch since Boeing and Lockheed Martin formed the joint venture in December 2006.
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