14 DAY TRIAL // A ULA Delta 4 rocket took off from the Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), in California, on April 3, carrying the NROL-25 spy satellite. The mission was contracted by the US National Reconnaissance Office, so the satellite payload was sent on a classified mission.
Launch occurred at 4:12 pm PDT (2312 GMT). Originally, the spacecraft was supposed to take off a few days earlier, but a series of technical issues and some bad weather prevented previous attempts.
If current NRO plans come to fruition, then the agency will launch three additional satellites this year, raising the total count of spy satellites placed in orbit between 2011 and 2012 to 11, Space reports.
“Our ability to sustain such high tempo is due both to the diligent efforts of our program teams who successfully acquire and deliver these complex systems on time, and our strong partnerships with the Air Force launch community,” says the deputy principal director of the NRO, Betty Sapp.