Gallery: NROL-71 mission finally gets underway

A Delta IV Heavy launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base’s Space Launch Complex 6 with the NROL-71 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. Photo Credit: Ashly Cullumber

LOMPOC, Calif. — After several scrubbed attempts, United Launch Alliance was finally able to launch its Delta IV Heavy rocket with the secretive NROL-71 payload.

Lifting off at 11:10 a.m. PST (19:10 GMT) Jan. 19, 2019, from Vandenberg Air Force Base’s Space Launch Complex 6 in California, the triple-core Delta IV Heavy began its ascent and southward trajectory toward orbit. Because this was a classified mission on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office, the exact orbital parameters for the payload were not publicly released.

This was the 132nd mission conducted by ULA since the company’s formation in December 2006 and the 11th flight for the massive 236-foot (72-meter) tall Delta IV Heavy since its maiden flight in December 2004.

“Congratulations to our team and mission partners for successfully delivering this critical asset to support national security missions,” Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs, said in a ULA press release. “Thank you to the entire team for their perseverance, ongoing dedication and focus on 100 percent mission success.”

ULA’s next mission is expected to launch the WGS-10 mission for the U.S. Air Force atop a Delta IV Medium rocket in March 2019 from Cape Canaveral.

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Tagged: Delta IV Heavy National Reconnaissance Office NROL 71 Space Launch Complex 6 The Range United Launch Alliance Vandenberg Air Force Base