US launches top-secret rocket

The Delta IV rocket was launched on Tuesday out of the Vandenberg Air Force Base about 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the Associated Press reported.

“We’ve just seen the successful lift-off,” launch commentator Don Spencer announced in a webcast.

No details regarding the classified cargo have been released and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has directed United Launch Alliance (ULA) to stop the live broadcast of the rocker liftoff three minutes after it began.

Jim Sponnick, the vice president of the mission operation for the ULA, explained the mission as being “critical for national security,” adding that, “ULA is proud to have supported this mission and delivered critical capabilities to the men and women defending our freedom throughout the world.”

However, intelligence analysts believe the classified mission carried a radar imaging satellite capable of spying at night and bad weather.

“In recent years, the United States has worked to phase out its fleet of older, heavier radar reconnaissance satellites with smaller but equally capable ones” Charles Vick, a space policy analyst, said.

Experts believe the new radar satellites will be able to zoom into the countries of interest and provide detailed images that typical earth satellites could not obtain.

TNP/HJL/IS

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