Tag: military space
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Photos: Delta 4-Heavy rocket awaits liftoff from historic SLC-6 launch pad
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket is awaiting liftoff with a classified U.S. government spy satellite at Vandenberg Air Force Base’s historic Space Launch Complex-6, a picturesque rocket facility that was once intended to support launches of military astronauts and space shuttles. These photos show the triple-body rocket, clad in orange thermal insulation, standing…
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Spy satellite successfully launched from California military base
A Delta 4-Heavy rocket lifts off Monday from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Credit: National Reconnaissance Office A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket climbed into orbit Monday from a military base northwest of Los Angeles, delivering to space a classified U.S. government spy satellite as large as a school bus…
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Live coverage: ULA’s heavy-lift rocket lifts off from California
Live coverage of the countdown and launch of a Delta 4-Heavy rocket with the classified NROL-82 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. Text updates will appear automatically below. Follow us on Twitter. [tabby title=”ULA broadcast”] United Launch Alliance’s live launch broadcast begins at 1:26 p.m. PDT (4:26 p.m. EDT; 2026 GMT) on Monday, April 26.
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One of ULA’s four remaining Delta 4 rockets set to launch from California
A Delta 4-Heavy rocket stands on Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Credit: United Launch Alliance United Launch Alliance ground crews on California’s Central Coast are gearing up to send a classified U.S. government spy satellite into orbit as soon as Monday — weather permitting — aboard one of the company’s…
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Delta 2 rocket exhibit opens at Kennedy Space Center
United Launch Alliance’s final Delta 2 rocket is now displayed at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. ULA, U.S. Space Force, NASA, and Visitor Complex officials gathered Tuesday for a grand opening ceremony. Credit: Stephen Clark / Spaceflight Now United Launch Alliance’s final Delta 2 rocket is now on display at the Kennedy Space Center…
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U.S. Space Force’s next missile warning satellite arrives at Florida launch base
The SBIRS GEO 5 satellite enters a thermal vacuum chamber last year at Lockheed Martin’s factory in Sunnyvale, California. Credit: Lockheed Martin A billion-dollar missile warning satellite built by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Space Force arrived at Cape Canaveral earlier this month to kick off final preparations for launch May 17 aboard a United…
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Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus rocket selected for responsive launch demo
A Pegasus rocket underneath its L-1011 carrier jet takes off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, before a 2013 launch. Credit: NASA The U.S. Space Force is planning for an airborne launch of a solid-fueled Pegasus rocket over the Pacific Ocean by early summer after quietly awarding Northrop Grumman a contract for the mission last…
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China launches spy satellite triplet for third time this year
A Long March 4C rocket lifts off Saturday with three Yaogan 31 military satellites. Credit: Xinhua Three Chinese military satellites launched Saturday aboard a Long March 4C rocket, joining six others China has sent into orbit since the start of the year on ocean surveillance missions. The three Yaogan 31-series satellites took off at 0219…
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ULA, SpaceX split military launch contract awards
EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated March 12 with additional details on launch sites and vehicle configurations. Artist’s illustration of a Vulcan Centaur launch. Credit: United Launch Alliance The U.S. Space Force announced Tuesday that it awarded $384 million in contracts to United Launch Alliance and SpaceX, giving each company two missions to launch military satellites in 2023. United…
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Delta 4-Heavy rocket erected on Vandenberg launch pad
A Delta 4-Heavy rocket stands inside the mobile shelter on Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base ahead of liftoff later this spring. Credit: United Launch Alliance United Launch Alliance recently raised a Delta 4-Heavy rocket, one of four left in the company’s backlog, vertical on its launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base…