1 of 29
NROL-25 Satellite Liftoff Straight Up
Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV carrying the NROL-25 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office lifts off from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, April 3, 2012.
2 of 29
NROL-25 Satellite Liftoff with Foreground Flowers
Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV carrying the NROL-25 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office lifts off from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, April 3, 2012.
3 of 29
NROL-25 Liftoff Through Mobile Service Tower
Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV carrying the NROL-25 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office lifts off from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, April 3, 2012.
4 of 29
NROL-25 Satellite Liftoff
Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV carrying the NROL-25 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office lifts off from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, April 3, 2012.
5 of 29
NROL-25 Satellite Liftoff, Low Angle
Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV carrying the NROL-25 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office lifts off from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
6 of 29
Next Stop, Space for Spy Satellite NROL-25
Credit: Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket blasts off from Space Launch Complex-6 at 4:12 p.m. PDT with the classified NROL-25 national security satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.
7 of 29
Spy Satellite NROL-25: Launch Smoke Trail
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket soars into orbit from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 4:12 p.m. PDT Tuesday, April 3, 2012. The rocket carried the NROL-25 spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.
8 of 29
Streaking to Orbit: NROL-25 Spy Satellite
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket soars into orbit from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 4:12 p.m. PDT Tuesday, April 3, 2012.
9 of 29
Spy Satellite NROL-25: Launch Smoke Trail
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket soars into orbit from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 4:12 p.m. PDT Tuesday, April 3, 2012. The rocket carried the NROL-25 spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.
10 of 29
NROL-25 Spysat Launch Poster
Credit: United Launch Alliance
The mission poster for the launch of NROL-25, a new spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, on April 3, 2012.
11 of 29
Spy Satellite and Flowers: NROL-25 Launch
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran
The mobile service tower rolls back from the United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Medium+ (5,2) rocket on Space Launch Complex 6 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on April 3, 2012. The rocket is carrying the classified NROL-25 spy satellite.
12 of 29
NROL-25 Spy Satellite Mission Logo
Credit: National Reconnaissance Office
The mission logo for the planned March 29, 2012 launch of the National Reconnaissance Office's latest spy satellite NROL-25.
13 of 29
Spy Satellite NROL-25 on Launch Pad
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran
The mobile service tower rolls back from the United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Medium+ (5,2) rocket on Space Launch Complex 6 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on April 3, 2012. The rocket is carrying the classified NROL-25 spy satellite.
14 of 29
Spy Satellite NROL-25 Launch Countdown
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran
The mobile service tower rolls back from the United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Medium+ (5,2) rocket on Space Launch Complex 6 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on April 3, 2012. This is the Department of Defense's first-ever launch of a Delta 4 configured with a 5-meter payload fairing and two solid rocket motors.
15 of 29
Flowery Spysat: NROL-25 Launch Prep
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran
The mobile service tower rolls back from the United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Medium+ (5,2) rocket on Space Launch Complex 6 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on April 3, 2012. The rocket is carrying the classified NROL-25 spy satellite.
16 of 29
Clouds for Spy Sat NROL-25
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran
Under a cloudy sky, the mobile service tower rolls back from the United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Medium+ (5,2) rocket on Space Launch Complex 6 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on April 3, 2012. The rocket is carrying the classified NROL-25 spy satellite.
17 of 29
Spy Satellite NROL-25: Vertical at the Pad
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran
The mobile service tower rolls back from the United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Medium+ (5,2) rocket on Space Launch Complex 6 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on April 3, 2012. The rocket is carrying the classified NROL-25 spy satellite.
18 of 29
Spy Satellite NROL-25: Vertical at the Pad
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran
The mobile service tower rolls back from the United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Medium+ (5,2) rocket on Space Launch Complex 6 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on April 3, 2012. The rocket is carrying the classified NROL-25 spy satellite.
19 of 29
Spy Satellite NROL-25: Cameras in Place
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)
Photographer Ben Cooper, representing Spaceflight Now, sets up a remote camera near Space Launch Complex 6 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base ahead of the April 3, 2012 launch of a Delta 4 rocket carrying the NROL-25 spy satellite.
20 of 29
Delta 4 Rocket Carrying Spy Satellite NROL-25
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran
A view of Space Launch Complex 6 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base ahead of the April 3, 2012 launch of a Delta 4 rocket carrying the NROL-25 spy satellite.
21 of 29
Delta 4 Rocket with NROL-25 Satellite
Credit: Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, with a national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. Launch is scheduled for April 3, 2012, at 4:12 p.m. PDT.
22 of 29
Delta 4 Rocket Carrying NROL-25 Satellite, Low Angle
Credit: Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-6 of Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA with a national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. Launch is scheduled for April 3, 2012, at 4:12 p.m. PDT.
23 of 29
Delta 4 Rocket with NROL-25 Satellite, Upper Detail
Credit: United Launch Alliance
The Mobile Service Tower (MST) is rolled back at Space Launch Complex-6 in preparation for launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV carrying the NROL-25 mission for the National Reconnaissance office, April 2012.
24 of 29
Delta 4 Rocket with NROL-25 Satellite at Space Launch Complex-6
Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV launch vehicle with the NROL-25 mission stands ready for launch from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-6, April 2012.
25 of 29
Delta 4 Rocket with NROL-25 Satellite in the Mobile Service Tower
Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV launch vehicle with the NROL-25 mission stands ready for launch from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-6, April 2012.
26 of 29
Delta 4 Rocket with NROL-25 Satellite in Sunlight
Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV launch vehicle with the NROL-25 mission stands ready for launch from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-6, April 2012.
27 of 29
Delta 4 Rocket with NROL-25 Satellite Through Fisheye Lens
Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV launch vehicle with the NROL-25 mission stands ready for launch from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-6, April 2012.
28 of 29
NROL-25 Satellite Transported
Credit: United Launch Alliance
The NROL-25 payload is transported to Space Launch Complex-6 in preparation for launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV launch vehicle, April 2012.
29 of 29
NROL-25 Payload Lifted
Credit: United Launch Alliance
The NROL-25 payload is mated to a United Launch Alliance Delta IV launch vehicle in preparation for launch from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, April 2012.










































