 Delta IV Launch with NROL-25 Spy Satellite Image Credit: ULAA United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV 5,2 finally got off the ground Tuesday, launching the NROL-25 spy satellite. The launch had been delayed since 29 March due to evaluations of the RL10B-2 upper stage engine. Observers believe that the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) spacecraft is the second in a new series of radar imaging satellites. An Atlas V launched the first of these craft in September of 2010, and it followed the same 123 ° retrograde orbit. This spacecraft is probably carrying a synthetic aperture radar system, capable of observing surface and underground through all kinds of atmospheric conditions. You Tube has the full launch video: |
