Atlas 5 to execute another space-lift mission for U.S. spy satellite agency

An early bird rocket launch from the Florida spaceport will take to the skies before dawn Thursday when an Atlas 5 lofts a classified U.S. government satellite. United Launch Alliance will send up the clandestine NROL-52 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, the agency responsible for the country’s fleet of spy satellites. The Launch readiness Review was passed Monday. Rollout of the rocket to the Complex 41 pad occurs Tuesday. Thursday’s liftoff is scheduled for 4:07 a.m. EDT (0807 GMT), and weather forecasters give a 60 percent chance of acceptable launch conditions. More

(Source: SpaceFlight Now - Oct 4)