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

By Space.com Staff
published

Delta 4 Heavy Rocket and Towers

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. [Read full story.]

Delta 4 Payload Fairing Lifted

United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 5-meter diameter payload fairing, with the National Reconnaissance Office's (NRO) NROL-65 payload encapsulated inside, is mated to its Delta 4 Heavy booster at Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Calif. Launch is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2013. [Read full story.]

NROL-65 Payload Mated to Booster

United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 5-meter diameter payload fairing, with the National Reconnaissance Office's (NRO) NROL-65 payload encapsulated inside, is mated to its Delta 4 Heavy booster at Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Calif. Launch is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2013. [Read full story.]

NROL-65 Payload on the Ground

United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 5-meter diameter payload fairing, with the National Reconnaissance Office's (NRO) NROL-65 payload encapsulated inside, is mated to its Delta 4 Heavy booster at Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Calif. Launch is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2013. [Read full story.]

Delta 4 5-Meter Diameter Payload Fairing

United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 5-meter diameter payload fairing, with the National Reconnaissance Office's (NRO) NROL-65 payload encapsulated inside, is mated to its Delta 4 Heavy booster at Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Calif. Launch is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2013. [Read full story.]

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

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.