A top-secret mission launched from our Space Coast Thursday morning.

  • Spy satellite is used to track terrorists, drug traffickers and WMDs

United Launch Alliance prepared their Atlas V rocket for liftoff from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The launch was a successfully one that took place at 8:37 a.m. However, since the mission is classified, ULA and the U.S. Air Force did not disclosed when the launch window closes.

The payload is a spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.

The NRO is in charge of America’s spy satellites, satellites that, according to their website, help to monitor the construction of weapons of mass destruction; track international terrorists, drug traffickers and criminal organizations; develop highly accurate military targeting data and bomb damage assessments; and assess the impacts of natural disasters like earthquakes and floods.

The Atlas V, with two solid rocket boosters, will also be used for human launches in the years ahead.

“It’s a 4-2 configuration of an Atlas V vehicle, which is the same configuration we use to support the crew mission in early 2018 and we’re very excited to support this critical national security mission,” said ULA’s Tony Taliancich.