VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload launched by team Vandenberg from Space Launch Complex-6 here Monday at 1:47 p.m. PDT.
Col. Anthony Mastalir, 30th Space Wing commander, was the launch decision authority.
“The teamwork between the 30th Space Wing, the 2nd Space Launch Squadron, the National Reconnaissance Office, United Launch Alliance, and numerous other agencies was outstanding,” said Mastalir. “National Security Space Launch is a ‘no-fail’ mission that requires the highest level of professionalism and dedication from all the Airmen and Guardians assigned to Team Vandenberg.”
This was the ninth Delta IV-Heavy launched from Vandenberg, with the first launch occurring Jan. 20, 2011, and it is the largest rocket ever to launch from the West Coast of the United States.