A camera perched atop an Alabama-built rocket has provided stunning views of the Earth and a chance to see what it is like to ride along on the way to space.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) completed the mission last week on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

The NRO is a joint Department of Defense-Intelligence Community organization and is tasked with operating the nation’s intelligence satellites used for national security.

The Delta IV Heavy rocket, built at ULA’s 1.6 million square-foot facility in Decatur, lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

ULA has now launched 143 times with 100% mission success.

Although the payload was secret due to its classified nature, that did not stop ULA from letting viewers tag along for several minutes.

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