Atlas 5 Rocket Launches U.S. Spy Satellites

An Atlas V rocket blasted out of Cape Canaveral this morning carrying a pair of top-secret spy satellites believed to be used to track ships at sea.

The rocket's first stage is performed perfectly as it arced out across the Atlantic Ocean, cutting across a nearly-clear blue sky. At payload fairing separation, the National Reconnaissance Office cut public access to the mission control loops so officials could begin working with the deployment of the classified spacecraft.

The magazine Aviation Week & Space Technology reports that the secret spacecraft are two satellites intended to track ships moving at sea, including those that might hint at terrorist activities or Chinese or Iranian naval tactics. They are being launched for the National Reconnaissance Office.

This was the ninth Atlas V launch and was the first for the NRO.

Friday marked the second attempt to launch the Atlas V in two days. The first attempt on Thursday was postponed because of problems with the Air Force Eastern Range's command and destruct systems used to protect people and property from errant rockets.

The rocket's launch came during the same week as the 50th anniversary of the launch of the first Atlas, a fleet of space launchers that began as intercontinental ballistic missiles.

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