--- title: "Watch the U.S. Launch a Classified Spy Satellite Today" description: "After multiple delays, bad weather, and a dramatic last-second abort, the United Launch Alliance is launching top secret spy satellite into space today." date: "2019-01-19" modified: "2019-01-19" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/us-launch-classified-spy-satellite-today" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "delta iv heavy" - "satellite" - "United Launch Alliance" --- # Watch the U.S. Launch a Classified Spy Satellite Today ![After multiple delays, bad weather, and a dramatic last-second abort, the United Launch Alliance is launching top secret spy satellite into space today.]() *\Image: NASA/Bill Ingalls\* ## Final Countdown After [multiple delays](), bad weather, and a [dramatic last-second abort](), the United Launch Alliance (ULA) is hoping to finally send a top secret spy satellite into space today. The satellite is scheduled to launch on top of a ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 2:05 p.m. EST. According to the [ULA](), it's the 38th time a Delta IV rocket has been launched since 2002. A handful of failed attempts have delayed the launch of the mission that was originally scheduled for early December. A [launch attempt]() in mid December was aborted when engineers noticed a hydrogen leak coming from one of the boosters. More issues with the rocket delayed launch again earlier this month. https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1086647205845319680 ## Highly Classified ULA vice president Gary Wentz called the mission a "high-priority mission for the nation's warfighters" [in a statement]() earlier this month. But otherwise, details about the satellites on board are sparse. In fact, the mission is so classified, the public stream of the launch will [cut out]() after only six minutes to protect NRO's mission from prying eyes, according to *Space.com*. But you'll be able to live stream those first few minutes on [ULA's website](). **READ MORE:** [US Launching Secret Spy Satellite Today! Here's How to Watch Live]() ***More on the U.S. spy satellite: [Watch a U.S. Spy Satellite Launch Fail Seconds Before Liftoff]()*** ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()