<p class="title">A US spy satellite has been launched into orbit from California.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A powerful Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying the National Reconnaissance Office satellite blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 11:10 am Pacific time Saturday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As is customary with classified payloads, United Launch Alliance webcast the liftoff only through the period when the aerodynamic fairing covering the payload was discarded.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Details of the mission, dubbed NROL-71, were not released.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The launch had been repeatedly delayed since late last year for reasons including a hydrogen leak, high winds and a problem with ground communication equipment.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The National Reconnaissance Office is responsible for US intelligence satellites.</p>.<p class="bodytext">United Launch Alliance is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The Delta 4 Heavy stands 233 feet (71 metres) tall.</p>
<p class="title">A US spy satellite has been launched into orbit from California.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A powerful Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying the National Reconnaissance Office satellite blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 11:10 am Pacific time Saturday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As is customary with classified payloads, United Launch Alliance webcast the liftoff only through the period when the aerodynamic fairing covering the payload was discarded.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Details of the mission, dubbed NROL-71, were not released.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The launch had been repeatedly delayed since late last year for reasons including a hydrogen leak, high winds and a problem with ground communication equipment.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The National Reconnaissance Office is responsible for US intelligence satellites.</p>.<p class="bodytext">United Launch Alliance is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The Delta 4 Heavy stands 233 feet (71 metres) tall.</p>