United Launch Alliance launches NROL-45 payload

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Feb. 10 (UPI) -- The United Launch Alliance completed its NROL-45 payload launch for the National Reconnaissance Office in support of a national defense mission.

The NROL-45 payload was launched aboard a Delta IV Medium Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle. For the launch, the vehicle used a single ULA common booster core supported by an Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68A main engine in addition to two Orbital ATK GEM-60 solid rocket motors.

"Congratulations to the ULA team and our U.S. Air Force and NRO partners on the launch of NROL-45," ULA Customs Services vice president Laura Maginnis said in a statement. "This is our second successful launch within five days for our U.S. government customer, a testament to our outstanding teamwork and focus on 100 percent mission success, one launch at a time."

The launch followed the final launch for the Global Positioning System block IIF constellation. The payload supports the mission of the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, a government agency tasked with designing, building, and maintaining intelligence satellites for the United States.

ULA's next launch is scheduled for March 22, and will support NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract.