Already shrouded in the Atlas 5 rocket’s Extra Extended Payload Fairing (XEPF) aluminum nose cone, the National Reconnaissance Office’s NROL-61 satellite was delivered to Cape Canaveral’s Vertical Integration Facility on Tuesday, July 19 and lifted aboard the United Launch Alliance vehicle for flight.

Launch is planned for Thursday, July 28 at 8:37 a.m. EDT (1237 GMT).

Photo credit: United Launch Alliance

See earlier NROL-61 coverage.

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