National Reconnaissance Office Satellite Succuessfully Launched

VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. — A National Reconnaissance Office satellite was sucessfully launched aboard a Titan IV-B rocket from South Vandenberg at 4:45 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time today.

Vandenberg’s 4th Space Launch Squadron launched the Titan IV-B from Space Launch Complex 4 East.

"This success was due to the great work of the NRO government-contractor team," said Col. Stephen Wojcicki, director of the NRO’s Office of Space Launch and mission director for this launch.

The launch occured just one day before the 40th anniversary of the first successful film recovery of the Corona satellite program. This success proved the viability of space-based reconnaissance.