Posted: Sat, Mar 12, 2011, 9:35 AM ET (1435 GMT)
A Delta 4 rocket successfully launched a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on Friday evening. The Delta 4 Medium+ (4,2) lifted off from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 6:38 pm EST (2338 GMT) Friday, after an approximately 40-minute delay because of high upper-level winds. The mission, designated NROL-27 or "Gryphon", carried a classified NRO satellite, and no details about the launch were released beyond that it was considered a success. Observers speculate that the spacecraft is a communications satellite designed to relay data from other NRO satellites.

Related Links:

•  CBS News article
•  SPACE.com article
•  NASASpaceFlight.com article
•  Florida Today article
•  United Launch Alliance article