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Atlas V launches NROL-35 out of Vandenberg


Atlas V launches NROL-35 out of Vandenberg United Launch Alliance has conducted its final launch of 2014, making use of a new upper stage engine on its Atlas V rocket to deliver a National Reconnaissance Office payload into orbit. Friday's launch of NROL-35 dodged the weather and occurred at 19:19 local time (03:19 UTC on Saturday) from Space Launch Complex 3E at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Although mission details are classified, the rocket was believed to be targeting a Molniya orbit – a highly elliptical trajectory with a period of 12 hours. The orbit is named after the Soviet Union’s Molniya communications satellites which were the first spacecraft to make use of the orbit. The Atlas V flew in her 541 configuration, however her Centaur upper stage sported an RL10C engine for the first time.   More



(Source: NASASpaceFlight.com - Dec 13)

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