Launch Photos: Huge Delta 4-Heavy Rocket Soars with Secret NROL-65 Satellite

Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Launches NROL-65 Mission

Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifted off from Space Launch Complex-6 here at 11:03 a.m. PDT today. Designated NROL-65, the mission is in support of national defense. This is ULA’s eighth launch in 2013, the 24th Delta 4 mission and the second Delta 4 Heavy launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base. [Read full story.]

Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Lifts Off

Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifts off from Space Launch Complex-6. Designated NROL-65, the mission is in support of national defense. This is ULA’s eighth launch in 2013, the 24th Delta IV mission and the second Delta IV Heavy launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base. [Read full story.]

Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Launches From Space Launch Complex-6

Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifts off from Space Launch Complex-6. Designated NROL-65, the mission is in support of national defense. This is ULA’s eighth launch in 2013, the 24th Delta IV mission and the second Delta IV Heavy launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base. [Read full story.]

Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Takes Off

Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifts off from Space Launch Complex-6. Designated NROL-65, the mission is in support of national defense. This is ULA’s eighth launch in 2013, the 24th Delta IV mission and the second Delta IV Heavy launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base. [Read full story.]

Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Launches Aug. 28, 2013

Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifted off from Space Launch Complex-6 here at 11:03 a.m. PDT today. Designated NROL-65, the mission is in support of national defense. This is ULA’s eighth launch in 2013, the 24th Delta 4 mission and the second Delta 4 Heavy launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base. [Read full story.]

NROL-65 Spy Satellite Lifts off the Pad

United Launch Alliance

The Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying the secret NROL-65 spy satellite blazes to life on Aug. 28, 2013. [Read full story.]

NROL-65 Spy Satellite Rises into the Sky

United Launch Alliance

The Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying America's secret NROL-65 spy satellite lifts off the launchpad on Aug. 28, 2013 in this screengrab from a launch webcast. [Read full story.]

NROL-65 Spy Satellite Streaks toward Space

United Launch Alliance

This screengrab from a launch webcast shows America's secret NROL-65 spy satellite heading toward space on Aug. 28, 2013, borne aloft by a Delta 4 Heavy rocket. [Read full story.]

Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Carrying the NROL-65 Mission

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 4 Heavy rocket carrying the NROL-65 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. Launch is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2013. [Read full story.]

Mobile Service Tower (MST) at Space Launch Complex-6

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 4 Heavy rocket carrying the NROL-65 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. Launch is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2013. [Read full story.]

Mobile Service Tower at Space Launch Complex-6

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 4 Heavy rocket carrying the NROL-65 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. Launch is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2013. [Read full story.]

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Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.