Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, contributed to the nation's security by boosting a classified spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on January 17.

The satellite was onboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket, powered by three Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68 engines and one upper-stage RL10B-2 engine. This was the 716th launch of a Delta vehicle under Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's power. The first Delta IV was launched in 2002. The upper-stage RL10B-2 helped place the satellite into orbit.

United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy rocket with the NRO payload successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex 37 at CCAFS at 9:47 p.m. EST on January 17th. This was the first Delta IV Heavy mission for the NRO. Designated NROL-26, the mission is in support of national defense. This was the third Delta IV Heavy launch in Delta program history. A Delta IV Heavy demonstration flight occurred in December 2004, and the first Air Force operational mission was launched in November 2007.