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NROL-61 (Atlas V) 28 July 2016 |
Space Launch Complex 41 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station |
| A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches the NROL-61 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) at 8:37 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The NRO came up with a lizard named Spike riding the rocket to represent the secret payload heading into orbit. |  |
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The day started out with a beautiful sunrise. |
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| At left in this wide angle view is Launch Complex 39A being leased by SpaceX and undergoing modifications to support launching different variations of their Falcon 9 rocket. The large building to the right of the pad is the new SpaceX rocket hanger. | |
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The Atlas V vents from its liquid oxygen tank. The rocket itself stands approximately 20 stories tall. |
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Jettisoning the solid rocket boosters. |
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The exhaust plume expands in the thin atmosphere at high altitude. |
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The exhaust cloud drifts away from SLC-41. |
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