A Minotaur I rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex-8. The rocket carried a national security payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. Image Credit: USAF
A classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office was lofted into orbit by a Minotaur 1 rocket on Sunday.
The Minotaur rocket lifted off at 4:26 a.m. PST from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The launch was delayed from Saturday by an Air Force transmitter glitch.
The NRO released a statement saying that the launch of NROL-66 was successful.
“I am extremely proud of the large group of professionals that came together to launch this rocket,” said Colonel Boltz. “The 30th Space Wing and its mission partners have a long history of successful Minotaur launches and we are proud to continue that history again here today.”
This launch was a combined effort of more than 200 personnel from the 30th Space Wing, NRO, Orbital Sciences Corporation, and the Space and Missile Systems Center.
The 30th Space Wing’s next launch is a Taurus XL rocket for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Feb. 23, 2011.
