Updated :
Saturday June 30 , 2012 2:56:35 PM
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket, the most powerful in the post shuttle US inventory, boosted a top-secret National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite into space early Friday, after a spectacular morning launch from Cape Canaveral.
Running three hours late because of technical snags, the 232-foot-tall rocket, made up of three liquid-fueled common core boosters and a powerful upper stage, roared to life at 9:15 a.m. EDT (GMT-4) and quickly climbed away from launch complex 37 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
At that point, in keeping with standard NRO policy, United Launch Alliance commentary ended and no other details about the flight were provided. But six hours later, the company released a statement calling the flight a success, indicating the satellite reached its intended preliminary orbit.
This was the 20th Delta 4 launch since 2002 and the sixth flight of the most powerful three-core version.
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket, the most powerful in the post shuttle US inventory, boosted a top-secret National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite into space early Friday, after a spectacular morning launch from Cape Canaveral.
Running three hours late because of technical snags, the 232-foot-tall rocket, made up of three liquid-fueled common core boosters and a powerful upper stage, roared to life at 9:15 a.m. EDT (GMT-4) and quickly climbed away from launch complex 37 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
At that point, in keeping with standard NRO policy, United Launch Alliance commentary ended and no other details about the flight were provided. But six hours later, the company released a statement calling the flight a success, indicating the satellite reached its intended preliminary orbit.
This was the 20th Delta 4 launch since 2002 and the sixth flight of the most powerful three-core version.
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