United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex 37 at CCAFS at 9:47 p.m. EST today. This was the first Delta IV Heavy mission for the NRO, carrying a classified intelligence-gathering satellite, designated NROL-26, .
VIDEO: OUR VIEW OF THE LAUNCH FROM THE PRESS SITE VIDEO: SHORTER CLIP OF THE LAUNCH VIDEO: DELTA IV LIFTS OFF WITH NROL-26 VIDEO: THE FIRST LAUNCH ATTEMPT WAS ABORTED AT T-55 SECONDS VIDEO: THIS MISSION WAS DEDICATED TO FORMER ULA AND NRO EMPLOYEES VIDEO: DELTA PROCESSING, ROLLOUT AND MST ROLLBACK VIDEO: ANIMATION OF THE ROCKET LAUNCH PROFILE ALL-ACCESS SUBSCRIBERS: WATCH A REPLAY OF THE ENTIRE LAUNCH WEBCAST This was the third Delta IV Heavy launch in Delta program history. A Delta IV Heavy demonstration flight occurred in December 2004, and the first Air Force operational mission was launched in November 2007. "This first Delta IV Heavy launch for the NRO is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication by the combined NRO, Air Force, supplier and ULA team," said Jim Sponnick, ULA Vice President, Delta Product Line. Tonight's launch was delayed 2 hours and 14 minutes because of minor undisclosed problems that arose during the final minutes of the countdown that led to two aborted launch attempts. "We appreciate the support from our mission partners in achieving this milestone. ULA is pleased to contribute to our nation’s security, and to continue our strong partnership with the NRO. We look forward to launching many more NRO missions on ULA’s Delta IV Medium, Delta IV Heavy and Atlas V vehicles." The ULA Delta IV Heavy vehicle featured a center common booster core with two strap-on common booster cores. Each common booster core was powered by the RS-68 cryogenic engine. An RL10B-2 cryogenic engine powered the second stage. Both engines are built by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. The payload was encased by a 5-meter diameter (16.7-foot diameter) aluminum, tri-sector payload fairing. ULA constructed the Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle in Decatur, Ala. "This launch is the culmination of a lot of long hours and hard work by the entire mission team," said Capt. Cliff Harness, Delta IV Operations Integration chief. "This successful launch helps to ensure that vital NRO resources will continue to bolster our national defense while showcasing why the 45th Space Wing is the world's premiere gateway to space," said Brig. Gen. Edward L. Bolton, Jr., 45th Space Wing commander. "I look forward to many more spectacular launches as commander of this amazing team of professionals." This was Gen. Bolton's first launch as commander of the 45th Space Wing, headquarted at Patrick, A.F.B. in Florida. The payload for this mission is highly classified and the NRO is providing few details about the spacecraft. However, Aviation Week & Space Technology and the website GlobalSecurity.org have reported that NROL-26 is a 12,000 pound signal intelligance satellite with an antenna as wide as 350 feet. According to GlobalSecurity.org, it is probably in the Advanced Mentor family, although other reports designate it as an Orion. That would make it the first Mentor to be deployed since the last one in 2003. Today's satellite is most likely an upgraded and more capable version. From its geostationary perch, the satellite will provide key intelligence on the communications of hostile parties such as Iran and al Qeada for the White House, NSA and the Pentagon. This was the first launch for ULA in 2009. ULA's next launch is NASA’s NOAA-N Prime mission currently scheduled for Feb. 4, aboard a Delta II from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. (Space Media Corporation / SpaceflightNews.net) 
(Image above: A united Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket lifts off with NROL-26 from Cape Canaveral. Photo Credit: Pat Coprkery / ULA)
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