Space

Stunning Photos Of Saturday's Mysterious Rocket Launch

Gaze upon the titanic beauty of a launching rocket

By Kelsey D. Atherton

June 14, 2016

Delta IV Heavy Waiting — Rockets spend most of their lives waiting. Here, the Delta IV Heavy that carried the National Reconnaissance Office's mysterious payload into space on June 11 basks in a sunset.Copyright Kyle Brown, used with permission

Last weekend, a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket hurtled a mysterious payload into orbit. The classified cargo, delivered on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office, is possibly a spy satellite, though we may not know for years or more what it actually was. What we can do is bask in the beauty of a rocket hurtling an enigma into orbit.

Read about the project's weird logo, watch Saturday's launch, and enjoy the photos below:

Delta IV Heavy Waiting In Daylight — "The Delta IV Heavy is capable of placing a payload of 6,750 kilograms (14,900 lb) directly into geosynchronous orbit," says NASA, "or upwards of 14,000 kg (31,000 lb) into a geosynchronous transfer orbit."Copyright Kyle Brown, used with permission

Delta IV Heavy Blastoff — This is what 2,950 kilonewtons of thrust looks like.Copyright Kyle Brown, used with permission

Delta IV Heavy In Air — Casual reminder that putting stuff on rockets and hurtling them into space is something humans do regularly now.Copyright Kyle Brown, used with permission

Delta IV Heavy Smoke Trail — One sudden cloud, made by a machine built my humans, marks a pathway to the stars.Copyright Kyle Brown, used with permission

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