Posted: Wed, Sep 22, 2010, 12:19 AM ET (0419 GMT)
An Atlas 5 rocket launched a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Monday night. The Atlas 5 501 lifted off from Space Launch Complex-3 East at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:03 pm PDT Monday (12:03 am EDT, 0403 GMT Tuesday) on mission NROL-41. No details about the payload were released, but United Launch Alliance did report the launch was successful. The launch was the first of an NRO payload in 20 months, although four more are planned over the next eight months, including a Delta 4 Heavy launch from Cape Canaveral in mid October.

Related Links:

•  NASASpaceFlight.com article
•  Lompoc (Calif.) Record article
•  Space News article
•  SPACE.com article
•  United Launch Alliance press release