A Delta IV rocket laden with a classified satellite from the National Reconnaissance Office successfully blasted into earth’s orbit on Jan. 12.
The launch occurred just after 2 p.m. that day and was carried out by the U.S. Air Force and the United Launch Alliance (ULA)—a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Company—at Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
“This was an incredibly important launch for the 30th Space Wing and our mission partners,” Col. Greg Wood, space launch commander, said in a statement. “The entire team—the 30th Space Wing, the National Reconnaissance Office, and others worked hand-in-hand to ensure this launch was safe and successful.”
The rocket had originally been scheduled for launch on Jan. 10, but was delayed due to high ground winds that day. On Jan. 11, the launch was further delayed due to “an issue with a ground system valve,” the Air Force said in a statement.
ULA said that the launch was its first of 2018 and the 124th successful launch since the company was formed in December 2016.
“As the nation’s most trustworthy launch provider, today’s launch exemplifies ULA’s ongoing commitment to 100 percent mission success,” Will Crawford, ULA’s National Reconnaissance Office program manager, added in the statement.
ULA uses Atlas and Delta rockets to “provide reliable, cost-efficient space launch services for the U.S. government ... launch customers include the Department of Defense, NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office, and other organizations,” according to the company’s website.
