WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. (WAVY) — A rocket launched overnight Thursday from the Wallops Island Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore, for the mission “Live and Let Fly.”
The mission was Rocket Lab’s 4th launch this year and the 46th Electron launch overall. Rocket Lab did not attempt to recover Electron’s first stage during this mission, a release states.
The NROL-123 mission was Rocket Lab’s first launch for the NRO from the U.S., according to a release.
Scientists were concerned that high winds could have postponed the launch. It ended up getting delayed about an hour while engineers double checked a part, but at 3:25 a.m. it blasted off into the night sky.
WAVY viewer Jason Betzner shared this photo he captured.
NASA Wallops posted to the social media platform X “A beautiful morning launch!”
After the launch, Rocket Lab thanked its mission partners, NASA Wallops and the Virginia Spaceport Authority for its support.
NASA said the rocket was visible in the sky for people from southern Maine to South Carolina.
A livestream was available around 30 minutes prior to lift-off on launch day.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.