NRO Successfully Launches Payload on Last Atlas 3 from Cape Canaveral

| 3 February 2005 |

Amid dense fog, a National Reconnaissance Office payload successfully launched from Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral at 2:41 a.m. this morning.

Placed into orbit by an Atlas 3 rocket, the launch was the 75th consecutive success for Lockheed Martin's Atlas family of rockets. It was also the last Atlas III launched from the United States. Launch officials had to deal with severe thunderstorms throughout the week.

"The entire launch team was outstanding. The weather was not cooperating, but everyone stayed positive and worked hard to ensure our perfect record of Atlas launches. I couldn't be happier," said Col Chip Zakrzewski, mission director for the launch and the director of the Office of Space Launch.