An United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket thundered off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station tonight, hurling a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload toward orbit.
Liftoff from Launch Complex 41 came right on time at 5:05 p.m., and the powerful booster shook windows here at the Kennedy Space Center.
As advertised by the company in advance, the live broadcast of the launch and mission commentary ended right when the two halves of the rocket's protective nosecone separated just under five minutes into flight, exposing the clandestine cargo within it.
United Launch Alliance is expected to issue a news release once the spacecraft-delivery mission is completed. Check back later for an update.
IMAGE NOTE: Click to enlarge the Florida Today photo of the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket trailing a long white umbilical of smoke as it arced out over the Atlantic Ocean and thundered toward space. Photo credit: Florida Today/Michael R. Brown.
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