Largest US Spy Satellite Launched

The US Air Force has sent “the largest satellite in the world” into space from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

An un-manned Delta 4-Heavy rocket blasted off From Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Sunday at 5:58 p.m. (22.58 GMT), the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) said in a statement.

The NRO described the satellite, known only by its launch identification number of NROL-32, as “the largest satellite in the world.”

The satellite was launched on top of the biggest unmanned rocket in service in the United States. It was so huge that it required the use of the Delta 4-Heavy rocket, essentially three boosters called Common Booster Core strapped together in a straight line that gives out 2 million pounds of thrust.

The 23-story rocket took off after several delays over the past few months because of technical glitches, including a problem during fueling for a launch on Friday.