CAPE CANVERAL, Fla. — 6:20 p.m. update
The ULA Atlas V rocket carrying a secret spy satellite successfully launched into space at 5:32 p.m. following a few short delays.
Watch the launch below:
WATCH LIVE: ULA Atlas V rocket carrying spy satellite into space ready for launch after brief delayWATCH LIVE: The ULA rocket launch carrying a spy satellite is about to lift off from the Space Coast. Watch it LIVE on Channel 9. READ MORE >>> at.wftv.com/2ID04Gd
Posted by WFTV Channel 9 on Friday, November 13, 2020
3:30 p.m. update: An unplanned hold has been inserted into the countdown of the ULA Atlas V rocket launch of a spy satellite into space, ULA announced.
The clocks stopped with an hour and 52 minutes to go while an issue is being assessed.
The new launch time has been set for 5:32 p.m. following a second brief delay.
>>>CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE LAUNCH LIVE<<<
NEW LAUNCH TIME has seen set for 5:24 p.m. EST (2224 UTC) for #AtlasV and #NROL101. https://t.co/M91ugJaYds
— ULA (@ulalaunch) November 13, 2020
An unplanned hold is being inserted into the countdown while an issue is being assessed. Launch Conductor Scott Barney called for clocks to stop at T-minus 1 hour, 52 minutes while the situation is examined. https://t.co/M91ugJaYds
— ULA (@ulalaunch) November 13, 2020
Read our previous coverage below:
An Atlas V rocket carrying the NROL-101 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) it set to launch Friday after being postponed several times.
ULA is targeting Friday at 5:13 p.m. for the launch, the day before NASA and SpaceX are scheduled to launch four astronauts aboard the Crew Dragon space capsule from the Space Coast. Click here to learn more about the Crew launch.
PHOTOS: Rocket launches from Central Florida
#AtlasV is powered up to begin launch day testing and final preparations for fueling operations for today's #NROL101 mission. The countdown is progressing smoothly here at the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center and at the Space Launch Complex-41 pad. https://t.co/M91ugJaYds pic.twitter.com/NmTByIco63
— ULA (@ulalaunch) November 13, 2020
The NROL-101 mission, originally scheduled for launch last week, has previously been postponed due to an issue with the upper payload, then a “ground valve issue,” and then this week due to Tropical Storm Eta.
If all goes according to plan this will be ULA’s 29th mission launched for the National Reconnaissance Office and the 17th NRO mission launched on an Atlas V. This will be the 141st mission for United Launch Alliance.
This is a classified payload of the National Reconnaissance Office, which oversees U.S. spy satellite operations. All we know is that the payload may likely be a U.S. spy satellite.
READ: Actor Tom Cruise to liftoff from Cape Canaveral to film first movie shot in space
The first Atlas V rocket was launched in 2002.
You can watch the rocket launch live on WFTV.com and the WFTV news app.
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