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U.S. company launches Atlas V with spy satellite on board

Xinhua, March 2, 2017 Adjust font size:

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched an Atlas V rocket Wednesday carrying the newest U.S. National Reconnaissance Office satellite.

The ULA Atlas V rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, video from the scene showed.

"Mission success! ULA's #AtlasV delivers #NROL79 for the National Reconnaissance Office!" ULA posted on tweeter.

The mission, named NROL-79, is in support of national defense, according to ULA. But the company did not disclose the satellite's specific details.

The Atlas booster for this mission was powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine, and the Centaur upper stage was powered by the Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C-1 engine.

This was ULA's second launch in 2017 and the 70th Atlas V launch since the rocket's inaugural mission in 2002. Endi