NROL-25 Satellite Liftoff Straight Up

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.

NROL-25 Satellite Liftoff with Foreground Flowers

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.

NROL-25 Liftoff Through Mobile Service Tower

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.

NROL-25 Satellite Liftoff

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.

NROL-25 Satellite Liftoff, Low Angle

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.

Next Stop, Space for Spy Satellite NROL-25

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.

Spy Satellite NROL-25: Launch Smoke Trail

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.

Streaking to Orbit: NROL-25 Spy Satellite

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.

Spy Satellite NROL-25: Launch Smoke Trail

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.

NROL-25 Spysat Launch Poster

The mission poster for the launch of NROL-25, a new spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, on April 3, 2012.

Spy Satellite and Flowers: NROL-25 Launch

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.

NROL-25 Spy Satellite Mission Logo

The mission logo for the planned March 29, 2012 launch of the National Reconnaissance Office's latest spy satellite NROL-25.

Spy Satellite NROL-25 on Launch Pad

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.

Spy Satellite NROL-25 Launch Countdown

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.

Flowery Spysat: NROL-25 Launch Prep

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.

Clouds for Spy Sat NROL-25

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.

Spy Satellite NROL-25: Vertical at the Pad

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.

Spy Satellite NROL-25: Vertical at the Pad

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.

Spy Satellite NROL-25: Cameras in Place

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.

Delta 4 Rocket Carrying Spy Satellite NROL-25

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.

Delta 4 Rocket with NROL-25 Satellite

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.

Delta 4 Rocket Carrying NROL-25 Satellite, Low Angle

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.

Delta 4 Rocket with NROL-25 Satellite, Upper Detail

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.

Delta 4 Rocket with NROL-25 Satellite at Space Launch Complex-6

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.

Delta 4 Rocket with NROL-25 Satellite in the Mobile Service Tower

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.

Delta 4 Rocket with NROL-25 Satellite in Sunlight

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.

Delta 4 Rocket with NROL-25 Satellite Through Fisheye Lens

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.

NROL-25 Satellite Transported

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.

NROL-25 Payload Lifted

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.

Launch Photos: US Spy Satellite NROL-25 Blasts Off

Date: 03 April 2012 Time: 06:11 PM ET
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