A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 13, 2012. It was the fifth Atlas V processed at Vandenberg AFB and the 606th Atlas mission in U.S. history. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)
9/14/2012 - VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-3 here Sept. 13 at 2:39 p.m.
It was the fifth Atlas V processed at Vandenberg and the 606th Atlas mission in U.S. history.
"It's an honor to work alongside the men and women of Team Vandenberg, United Launch Alliance, the National Reconnaissance Office and our mission partners," said Col. Nina Armagno, 30th Space Wing commander. "These synergistic relationships are what guide Vandenberg to continual mission success and lead us into the next generation of spaceport excellence."
Western range launch operations were executed without incident.
The rocket carried a national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Vandenberg AFB's next launch is a Minuteman III scheduled for Nov. 14.
