May 17th an Atlas V launches the X-37B space plane.

9:14 am EST atop an Atlas V from launch pad 40 at Canaveral Air Force Station.

The sixth mission of the military's secret X-37B space plane launched early Sunday morning under the literal fog of war. I guess the war of rocket launching anyway, extreme cloud and haze with on and off rain showers all morning had delayed the launch by a day but was able to get the bird flying for the U.S. military.

The 197 foot tall Atlas V rocket loaded lifted off from pad 41 at Cape Canaveral for the USSF 7 mission and expertly delivered the secret space plane into orbit. In the 501 configuration this mission became the seventh time that particular Atlas V configuration has flown. With now 84 launches total of the mighty Atlas V. Built by Boeing, the X-37B is a recoverable, reusable plane that can perform in low Earth orbit for months or years at a time. Most specifics of the planes capabilities are classified

One of two X-37B's on hand for the U.S. military this launch will be the first one operated by the U.S. Space Force, the newest branch of the U.S. military, although all control of the program remains in ownership of the U.S. Air Force