CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is three for three with the successful launch Wednesday of its third satellite in two months, an ambitious schedule planned long before the Sept. 11 attacks that will nevertheless help the United States as it continues its war against terrorism.

The effort began in California on Sept. 8 with the launch of an Atlas 2AS rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base and continued Oct. 5 with the launch of a Titan 4B, also from the west coast. The Atlas likely carried a satellite capable of detecting signals from enemy ships, while the Titan probably lofted a new imaging spy satellite.

The third NRO satellite was shot into space atop an Atlas 2AS rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, with liftoff taking place at 10:32 p.m. EDT. The mission ended about 30 minutes later when the clandestine cargo -- believed to be a communications relay satellite -- was released into orbit.

"Together these new spacecraft gives the NRO just what it needs to provide America's leaders with an improved ability to monitor its enemies and see any battlefield much more clearly," said Roger Guillemette, a military space writer who closely follows the NRO. "These launches couldn't have come at a better time."