CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A new clandestine satellite has rocketed into space.
An unmanned Delta IV-Heavy rocket lifted off Friday morning from Cape Canaveral, Fla. It carried a satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.
The reconnaissance office is keeping mum about the satellite's purpose.
This was the second rocket launch for the NRO in the last two weeks. An Atlas V rocket carrying another secret satellite was launched June 20.
"They are silent sentinels. They look and listen from the cold reaches of space. They capture signals and images critical to America's intelligence community, warfighters and policymakers. They reveal threats to the homeland, provide battlefield situational awareness, support counter-narcotics, and survey the damage from natural disasters and much more. They are the satellites of the National Reconnaissance Office; America's eyes and ears in space," the agency said.
The launch was delayed a day because of concerns about weather conditions caused by Tropical Storm Debby earlier in the week. Because of several technical issues with a sticky valve, the Friday morning launch was delayed three hours, but the rocket went off without a hitch once it was cleared for flight.
The Delta IV-Heavy is the largest of the Delta rockets.
WFTV
