
Powerful Delta IV Heavy rocket launches secret US spy satellite to orbit
It's unclear exactly what the NROL-44 satellite will be doing in orbit.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The United States just added to its network of spy satellites.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched its 12th Delta IV Heavy rocket Thursday evening (Dec. 10) from the newly minted Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida . The massive rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex-37 here at 8:09 p.m. EDT (0109 GMT on Dec. 11), hoisting the classified NROL-44 spacecraft for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
The launch went off without a hitch following months of delays that included hardware issues and problems with launch pad infrastructure.
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