
The Air Force Thursday successfully launched the satellite NROL-33 for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, according to launch provider United Launch Alliance (ULA). The mission took place on an Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) 401 configuration vehicle, which includes a four-meter-diameter payload fairing. The Atlas V rocket uses the Russian-made RD-180 engine as its first stage booster. The Centaur upper stage was powered by a single Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10A engine. The EELV…