A Delta 2 rocket placed a classified payload into orbit on Dec. 14 for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, the first mission for the newly formed United Launch Alliance. The Delta 2 lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 4 p.m. EST and deployed the payload following a 58-minute flight.

The ULA, a joint venture of Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp., began operations Dec. 1. The organization combines the U.S. government launch operations of the two companies. In 2006, Boeing and Lockheed Martin performed a combined 11 missions for the U.S. government, and the 2007 manifest consists of 21 planned missions: 12 Boeing Delta 2 launches, three Delta 4 missions and six Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 launches.