The Air Force and its industry partners launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload into space from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. “This Atlas V launch marked the last of the year and I am very proud of the teamwork that led to the success of not only today’s launch, but those that preceded,” said Col. Keith Balts, 30th Space Wing commander, of the Dec. 12 mission in Vandy’s release. The Atlas configuration used in the mission, designated NROL-35, had four solid rocket boosters, along with the Atlas V’s main engine. This made it “the most powerful Atlas ever launched from California, with more than two million pounds of liftoff thrust,” said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, in a release. The mission also marked the inaugural flight of the Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C-1 engine. “ULA is extremely pleased with this first flight of the new RL10C-1 engine,” said Sponnick. NROL-35 was the third and final NRO launch in 2014, according to NRO’s release.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
