14 DAY TRIAL // In a recent press release, the United States Air Force (USAF) confirmed the successful launch of a new spy satellite from Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida. The mission, bearing the designations NROL-67, L-67, and USA-250, features a classified reconnaissance spacecraft. Not many details about it are available to the public.
The satellite was launched into space aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V heavy-lift delivery system, flying in the popular 541 configuration. Liftoff occurred at 17:45 EDT (2145 GMT) on April 10, and USAF officials say that the payload was successfully delivered to its target orbit. A media blackout entered effect immediately after launch, Space News reports.
NROL-67 was originally supposed to launch at the end of March, but a series of technical issues at the launch pad prevented this. Due to the 16-day delay, the launch of the latest resupply mission to the International Space Station was also delayed to April 14 or April 18. The flight will be carried out by the Dragon unmanned cargo capsule and the Falcon 9 delivery system, both developed by SpaceX.
The new satellite was launched by the USAF for the Chantilly, Virginia-based US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which is in charge of planning, developing, building, and operating the country's fleet of spy satellites. The federal agency has two more spy satellite launches lined up for 2014, NRO Director Betty Sapp told the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee on April 3.