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ULA Rocket Launch Remains On Track For Friday

By  //  June 28, 2012

Secret Payload

BREVARD COUNTY • CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – The countdown continues for the blast-off of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket carrying a secret payload for the National Reconnaissance Office on Friday morning.

The National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-15 payload is encapsulated in a 5-meter diameter payload fairing and mated to a Delta IV Heavy rocket in preparation for launch from Space Launch Complex-37 on Friday. (Image courtesy United Launch Alliance)

The original plan called for the NROL-15 mission to liftoff sometime today, but because of precautions taken to protect the mission from the approach of Tropical Storm Debby, the rocket launch was rescheduled for 6:13 a.m. Friday from Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

United Launch Alliance officials said the Delta IV has been moved to the launch pad and the launch countdown is under way.

If the rocket does launch Friday, it will be the third mission undertaken for the National Reconnaissance Office this year and the second of three planned launches for the agency in a span of six weeks.

On June 20, an Atlas V rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying another secret payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.