Less than a week after reaching its milestone 100th launch, United Launch Alliance sent an Atlas V rocket roaring into the sky early Thursday morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The 19-story-tall Atlas V rocket carried a National Reconnasiance Office spacecraft for a mission labeled NROL-55. The miniature spacecraft, sponsored by the NRO and NASA, will test assorted technology and is in support of national defense, ULA officials said.

Thirteen CubeSats also launched aboard the Atlas V rocket aboard the NRO's Government Rideshare Advanced Concepts Experience auxiliary payload. Nine of the CubeSats are sponsored by the NRO, and four are sponsored by NASA.

The GRACE payloads will be delivered to space on the Aft Bulkhead Carrier, which is located on the rear of the Centaur upper stage.

NROL-55 is the 58th Atlas V mission since the vehicle's inaugural launch in 2002. The mission is ULA's 10th of 2015 and the 101st since the company was founded in December 2006.