A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V carrying a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payload is scheduled to launch from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., on Thursday, the Air Force said on Wednesday.
The launch window is set to open at 7:17 p.m. PDT. ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Boeing [BA].
“Our team and mission partners have put a lot of hard work into preparing for this important mission for our Nation,” Col. Keith Bates, 30th Space Wing commander and the launch decision authority for Thursday, said in a statement.
“We are looking forward to a safe and successful launch to close out an amazing year.”
The 4th Space Launch Squadron (SLS) is in charge of mission assurance and safety for the launch operation, the Air Force noted.