A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket launched from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base Monday, carrying to orbit the classified NROL-82 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The launch occurred at 13:47 Pacific Daylight Time / 20:47 UTC.
Designated NRO Launch 82 (NROL-82), Monday’s Delta IV flight marked the first launch of the year for United Launch Alliance (ULA). Formed in 2006, ULA operates the Atlas and Delta vehicles that launch critical national security missions for the US military, as well as scientific spacecraft for NASA and commercial satellites.