National Reconnaissance Office Satellite Successfully Launched

8 September 2001

The National Reconnaissance Office successfully launched a national security payload on a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS rocket on Sept. 8 at 8:25 a.m. (PDT) from Space Launch Complex 3E at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. This was the first Atlas Centaur launched from Vandenberg for the NRO.

"Once again, the superb NRO government-contractor team has succeeded in doing its part to sustain our country's national security efforts," said Col. Stephen Wojciki, director of NRO's Office of Space Launch and mission director for this launch.