ULA Atlas 5 Rocket Launches Classified Satellite Into Space Today!

The Air Force launched a top-secret satellite aboard the United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket on Thursday morning. At 9:09 a.m. the rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida carrying the NROL-33 satellite.

The NROL-33 mission launch was carried out for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). According to SpaceFlight101, the NROL-33 satellite - about which there is no concrete information - is most likely a Quasar satellite that will become a part of the Satellite Data System. The satellites that are a part of this system are communication relay satellites for transmitting real-time data in polar areas, and they're also used for communications to U.S. Air Force aircraft on polar routes.

The National Reconnaissance Office is responsible for operating the United States' fleet of spy satellites. Today's launch is on its way to an undisclosed orbit to deploy the clandestine payload, but as mentioned previously, some have an idea of what the satellite will be used for.

"We are committed to smart acquisition investments and practices to ensure the continued coverage and availability of our vital National Security systems and we work tirelessly to continue to deliver these systems on time and within budget," said NRO Director Betty Sapp in this SpaceFlightNow.com article.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk probably has a close eye on this launch after feuding for the better part of the last month with the Air Force and the ULA over national security-related launches. The ULA receives their rocket engines from Russia, which current has sanctions imposed upon them by the United States due to the crisis in Ukraine. As a result, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said the country would no longer supply the United States with rocket engines if they continue to use them for national security-related launches.

In the event that the U.S. rocket supply may be cut off, the Air Force has been looking elsewhere for such a supply. They said they have purchased enough Russian rocket engines to be secure for a short while, but this issue must be solved before Russia pulls the trigger on their word. And that's where SpaceX comes in. Mr. Musk says that if his company conducted national security-related launches, it would save American taxpayers $1 billion because they produce their own rocket engines.

But until the time comes, it's unclear what the Air Force will do. In the meantime, you can watch the coverage of this morning's launch on Space.com.