See images of SpaceX launching Northrop Grumman robotic spacecraft

With a brilliant blue-sky backdrop, a soaring SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched Northrop Grumman's Mission Robotic Vehicle during a late-afternoon mission Tuesday, July 21, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The Falcon 9 took flight at 5:15 p.m. from Launch Complex 40. Touted by Northrop Grumman as a "Swiss army knife for satellites," the MRV is designed for on-orbit satellite inspection, life extension, repairs, upgrades, debris removal and repositioning.

Looking ahead on the Eastern Range calendar, another Falcon 9 will launch July 30 on a SpaceX national security mission, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows. More details on the NROL-95 mission:

• Launch window: 2:37 a.m. to 4:04 a.m.

• Location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

• Live FLORIDA TODAY Space Team coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.

For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space. Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly 321 Launch space newsletter.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY, where he has covered news since 2004. Contact Neale at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1