List of NRO launches
This is a list of NRO Launch (NROL) designations, i.e. satellites operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office. Those missions are generally classified, so that their exact purposes and orbital elements are not published. However, amateur astronomers have managed to observe most of the satellites, and leaked information has emerged to identify many of the payloads.
Launch Designation |
Launch Name | Satellite Designation |
Launch Date/Time (GMT) |
Launch Site | Rocket | Orbit | Project | Function | Status | Patch | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
L-1 | Nemesis[1] | USA-179[1] | 2004-08-31 23:17[2] |
CCAFS SLC-36A[2] | Atlas IIAS[2] | Molniya | Quasar[1] | Communications[2] | Active | ||
L-2 | USA-129 | 1996-12-20 18:04 |
VAFB SLC-4E | Titan IV | LEO | KH-11 | Optical imaging | ||||
L-3 | USA-133 | 1997-10-24 02:32 |
VAFB SLC-4E | Titan IV | LEO | Lacrosse | ELINT | Active | |||
L-4 | Oscar | USA-136 | 1997-11-08 02:05 |
CCAFS SLC-41 | Titan IV | Molniya | Trumpet | ELINT | Active | ||
L-5 | Capricorn[1] | USA-137[1] | 1998-01-29 18:37 |
CCAFS SLC-36A | Atlas IIA | Molniya | Quasar[1] | Communications | Active | ||
L-6 | Jack | USA-139[3] | 1998-05-09 01:38 |
CCAFS SLC-40 | Titan IV/Centaur | GSO | Orion | ELINT | |||
L-7 | Elwood | N/A | 1998-08-12 11:30 |
CCAFS SLC-41 | Titan IV/Centaur | GSO (planned) | Mercury | ELINT | Failed: 1998-08-12 | "On a Mission from DoD" | Rocket self-destructed 40 seconds into launch due to guidance problem[4] |
L-8 | None | 1998-10-03 10:04 |
VAFB LC-576E | Taurus 1110 | LEO | STEX | Technology | ATEX experiment jettisoned on 1999-01-16 and catalogued as USA-141 | |||
L-9 | USA-144[1] | 1999-05-22 09:36[5] |
VAFB SLC-4E[5] | Titan IVB[5] | Misty[1] | Optical imaging[1] | First Titan IV-B launch from VAFB | ||||
L-10 | Great Bear[1] | USA-155[1] | 2000-12-06 02:47[2] |
CCAFS SLC-36A[2] | Atlas IIAS[2] | GSO[2] | Quasar[1] | Communications[2] | Active | ||
L-11 | Onyx/Vega | USA-152 | 2000-08-17 23:45 |
VAFB SLC-4E | Titan IVB | LEO | Lacrosse | Radar imaging | Active | ||
L-12 | Aquila[1] | USA-162[1] | 2001-10-11 02:32[2] |
CCAFS SLC-36B[2] | Atlas IIAS[2] | GSO[2] | Quasar[1] | Communications | Active | ||
L-13 | Gemini[1] | USA-160[1] | 2001-09-08 15:25 |
VAFB SLC-3E[2] | Atlas IIAS[2] | LEO[2] | Intruder[1] | Naval reconnaissance[2] | Active | 2 satellites[2] | |
L-14 | USA-161 | 2001-10-05 21:21 |
VAFB SLC-4E | Titan IVB | LEO | KH-11 | Optical reconnaissance | Active | |||
L-15 | USA-237 | 2012-06-29 13:15[6] |
CCAFS SLC-37B | Delta IV Heavy (first RS-68A upgrade) | GSO | Mentor* | ELINT | Active | * - or follow-on | ||
L-16 | Prometheus | USA-182[3] | 2005-04-30 00:50[7] |
CCAFS SLC-40 | Titan IVB | LEO | Lacrosse | Radar imaging | Active | ||
L-17 | GeoLITE[1] | USA-158[1] | 2001-05-18 17:45[8] |
CCAFS SLC-17B[8] | Delta II 7925-9.5[8] | GSO[8] | GeoLITE[1] | Technology demonstration[8] | Active | ||
L-18 | Libra[1] | USA-173[1] | 2003-12-02 10:04[2] |
VAFB SLC-3E[2] | Atlas IIAS[2] | LEO[2] | Intruder[1] | Naval reconnaissance[2] | Active | 2 satellites[2] | |
L-19 | Homer[9] | USA-171[3] | 2003-09-09 04:29[10] |
CCAFS SLC-40 | Titan IVB/Centaur | GSO | Orion | ELINT | Active | ||
L-20 | USA-186[3] | 2005-10-19 18:05[11] |
VAFB SLC-4E | Titan IVB | LEO | KH-11 | Optical imaging | Active | |||
L-21 | USA-193[1] | 2006-12-14 21:00[8] |
VAFB SLC-2W[8] | Delta II 7920-10[8] | LEO[8] | Unknown | Unknown | Failed | Failed immediately after launch. Destroyed by ASAT on 2008-02-21. | ||
L-22 | USA-184[1] | 2006-06-28 03:33 |
VAFB SLC-6 | Delta IV M+(4,2) | Molniya | Improved Trumpet[1] | ELINT | Active | |||
L-23 | Canis Minor[1] | USA-181[1] | 2005-02-03 07:41 |
CCAFS SLC-36B | Atlas IIIB | LEO | Intruder[1] | Naval reconnaissance | Active | 2 satellites | |
L-24 | Scorpius[1] | USA-198[1] | 2007-12-10 22:05 |
CCAFS SLC-41 | Atlas V 401 | Molniya | Quasar[1] | Communications | Active | ||
L-25 | Altair | USA-234 | 2012-04-03 23:12[12][13] |
VAFB SLC-6 | Delta IV M+(5,2) | Retrograde LEO [14] | Topaz | Radar imaging | Active | ||
L-26 | USA-202 | 2009-01-18 02:47 |
CCAFS SLC-37B | Delta IV Heavy | GSO | Orion | ELINT | Active | |||
L-27 | Gryphon[9] | USA-227 | 2011-03-11 23:38 |
CCAFS SLC-37B | Delta IV M+(4,2) | GSO | Quasar | Communications | Active | ||
L-28 | USA-200 | 2008-03-13 10:02 |
VAFB SLC-3E | Atlas V 411 | Molniya | Improved Trumpet | ELINT | Active | |||
L-29 | VAFB SLC-3E | Atlas V 521 [15] | Cancelled | ||||||||
L-30 | Pyxis[1] | USA-194[1] | 2007-06-15 15:12 |
CCAFS SLC-41 | Atlas V 401[1] | LEO | Intruder[1] | Naval reconnaissance | Active | 2 satellites Premature 2nd stage cutoff during launch. Lifetime reduced by need to correct orbit | |
L-32[16] | USA-223 | 2010-11-21 22:58[17] |
CCAFS SLC-37B | Delta IV Heavy | GSO | Orion[18] | ELINT | Operational | |||
L-33 [19] | USA-252 | 2014-05-22 13:09 |
CCAFS SLC-41 | Atlas V 401 | GSO | Quasar | Communications | Active | |||
L-34 | Odin[20] | USA-229 | 2011-04-15 04:24 |
VAFB SLC-3E[17] | Atlas V 411[17] | LEO | Intruder | Naval SIGINT | Operational[21] | Two satellites | |
L-35 | USA-259 | 2014-12-13 03:19 |
VAFB SLC-3E | Atlas V 541 | Molniya | ELINT (?) | Launched | First flight of the RL10C-1 rocket engine, used by the Centaur upper stage | |||
L-36[22] | USA-238[23] | 2012-09-13 21:39[13] |
VAFB SLC-3E | Atlas V 401[24] | Low Earth | Intruder | SIGINT | Launched |
|
Two satellites sharing a designation | |
L-37[25] | USA-268 | 2016-06-11 17:51 |
CCAFS SLC-37B | Delta IV Heavy | GSO | Orion | SIGINT[26] | Launched |
|
Likely the seventh so called Mentor/Orion satellite for the National Security Agency.[27] | |
L-38 [28] | Drake [29] | USA-236 | 2012-06-20 12:28[13] |
CCAFS SLC-41 | Atlas V 401 | GSO | Quasar | Communications | Active | ||
L-39[30] | USA-247 | 2013-12-06 07:14[31] |
VAFB SLC-3E | Atlas V 501 | Low Earth | Topaz | Radar imaging | Active | |||
L-41[16] | Gladys[9] | USA-215[1] | 2010-09-21 04:03[17] |
VAFB SLC-3E | Atlas V 501 | LEO (retrograde)[32] 1058 x 1072 km [33] | Topaz | Radar imaging | Operational | ||
L-42[34] | TBD | 2017 | VAFB SLC-3E | Atlas V 541 | Awaiting launch | ||||||
L-44[34] | TBD | NET 2019 | CCAFS SLC-37B | Delta IV Heavy | Awaiting launch | ||||||
L-45 [30] | USA-267 | 2016-02-10 11:40 | VAFB SLC-6 | Delta IV M+(5,2) | LEO (retrograde)[35] 1084 x 1086 km x 123 deg[36] | Topaz | Radar imaging | Launched | |||
L-49[16] | Betty[9] | USA-224 | 2011-01-20 21:10[37] |
VAFB SLC-6 | Delta IV Heavy | LEO 239 x 1005 km[38] | KH-11[37] | Optical imaging | Operational | ||
L-52[34] | TBD | 2017-10-01 | CCAFS SLC-41 | Atlas V 421 | ? | Awaiting launch | |||||
L-55[34] | USA-264 | 2015-10-08 12:49 |
VAFB SLC-3E | Atlas V 401 | LEO 1000 x 1200 km x 63.4°[39] | Intruder | Naval SIGINT ELINT[27] | Launched | one classified satellite (NROL-55) and 13 cubesats. | ||
L-61[34] | Spike[40] | USA-269 | 2016-07-28
12:37[41] |
CCAFS SLC-41 | Atlas V 421 | GSO[42] | Quasar[42] | Communications | Launched | ||
L-65 [43] | USA-245 | 2013-08-28 18:03 |
VAFB SLC-6 | Delta IV Heavy | LEO | KH-11 | Optical imaging | Launched | |||
L-66[44] | USA-225 | 2011-02-06 12:26 |
VAFB SLC-8 | Minotaur I | LEO | RPP | Technology | Operational | |||
L-67 [45] | USA-250 | 2014-04-10 17:45 |
CCAFS SLC-41 | Atlas V 541 | Launched | ||||||
L-68[26] | TBD | NET 2021 | CCAFS SLC-37B | Delta IV Heavy | Awaiting launch | ||||||
L-70[26] | TBD | NET 2022 | CCAFS SLC-37B | Delta IV Heavy | Awaiting launch | ||||||
L-71[34] | TBD | NET 2018 | VAFB SLC-6 | Delta IV Heavy | Awaiting launch | ||||||
L-76[46] | TBD | NET March 2017 | CCAFS SLC-40 | Falcon 9 | Awaiting launch | ||||||
L-79[34][47] | TBD | NET Q2 2017 | VAFB SLC-3E | Atlas V 401 | Awaiting launch | ||||||
L-82[26][48] | TBD | NET 2020 | VAFB SLC-6 | Delta IV Heavy | Awaiting launch | ||||||
L-91[48] | TBD | NET 2023 | VAFB SLC-6 | Delta IV Heavy | Awaiting launch | ||||||
L-101[34] | TBD | NET 2019 | CCAFS SLC-41 | Atlas V | Awaiting launch | ||||||
Launch Designation |
Launch Name | Satellite Designation |
Launch Date/Time (GMT) |
Launch Site | Rocket | Orbit | Project | Function | Status | Patch | Remarks |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive – US Military Launch Record. None. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Encyclopedia Astronautica – Atlas IIAS. Astronautix.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 NRO codenames. Forum.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
- ↑ National Reconnaissance Office Satellite Destroyed August 19, 1998
- 1 2 3 National Reconnaissance Satellite Successfully Launched May 22, 1999
- ↑
- ↑ NRO Successfully Launches Last Titan from Cape Canaveral April 29, 2005
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Encyclopedia Astronautica – Delta 7000 Archived March 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- 1 2 3 4 "Re: NROL codenames". nasaspaceflight.com. 2011-01-22.
- ↑ NRO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES PAYLOAD FROM TITAN IV September 10, 2003
- ↑ NRO Payload Takes Last Ride Aboard Titan IV October 20, 2005
- ↑ NROL-25 Mission Status
- 1 2 3 Spaceflight Now: Worldwide launch schedule. Spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved on Feb 3, 2012.
- ↑ Delta 4 headed for backwards orbit
- ↑ http://www.comspacewatch.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=16796
- 1 2 3 Spaceflight Now: Worldwide launch schedule. Spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 Atlas Launch Report | Mission Status Center. Spaceflight Now. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
- ↑ Delta IV Heavy launches with NROL-32. NASASpaceFlight.com (2010-11-21). Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
- ↑ http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/MissionData.php?mission=NROL-33
- ↑ :::: United Launch Alliance, LLC ::::. Ulalaunch.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
- ↑
- ↑ http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=38758
- ↑ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=2012-048A
- ↑ http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/30/
- ↑ "Triple-barrel Delta 4-Heavy launches national security satellite". Spaceflight Now. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Ray, Justin (June 7, 2016). "Surveillance satellite launching Thursday atop Delta 4-Heavy rocket". Spaceflight Now.
- 1 2 "Gunter's Space Page". 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
- ↑ http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/MissionData.php?mission=NROL-38
- ↑ http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av023/images/NROL38logo.jpg
- 1 2 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=3f220ddfda92019ff7ad72adcde4e37c&tab=core&_cview=1
- ↑ NRO Press Release 2013-04
- ↑ Barhorst, Leo (2010-10-01). "Reason for FIA Radar 1/USA 215 retrograde orbit?". Retrieved 2010-10-02.
- ↑ Molczan, Ted (2010-09-22). "NROL 41". Retrieved 2010-10-02.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "2016 manifest preview: United Launch Alliance's busy year ahead". Spaceflight Now. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ "ULA Delta IV launches with NROL-45 | NASASpaceFlight.com". www.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan (2016-02-10). "Twitter". Retrieved 2016-02-13.
TOPAZ 4 (USA 267) has been observed by hobbyist @cgbassa in a 1084 x 1086 km x 123 deg orbit following today's launch from Vandenberg
- 1 2 Graham, William (2011-01-20). "Delta IV Heavy launches on debut West Coast launch with NRO L-49". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
- ↑ Molczan, Ted (2011-01-22). "RE: NROL-49 search elements".
- ↑ Graham, William (2015-10-07). "NROL-55 takes a ride uphill on ULA Atlas V". NASA Spaceflight.
- ↑ Ray, Justin (July 28, 2016). "Spy satellite infrastructure supported by successful Atlas 5 rocket launch". Spaceflight Now.
- ↑ Graham, William (2016-07-28). "Atlas V successfully launches NROL-61 reconnaissance satellite". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
- 1 2 "NROL-61 satellite launched Thursday spotted in space by sky-watchers". Spaceflight Now. July 30, 2016.
- ↑ http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/MissionData.php?mission=NROL-65
- ↑ Graham, William (2011-02-06). "Orbital's Minotaur I launches with NROL-66". nasaspaceflight.com.
- ↑ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Mission in Just Seven Days". United Launch Alliance. Retrieved 2014-04-11.
- ↑ Gruss, Mike. "NRO discloses previously unannounced launch contract for SpaceX". SpaceNews. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ↑ USAF. "EELV PHASE 1A NROL-79 Request For Proposal".
- 1 2 Gruss, Mike (8 August 2016). "No complaint from SpaceX as Air Force skips competition for pair of NRO missions". SpaceNews. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
In its announcement, the Defense Department said it plans to award a formal contract for the first mission, known as NROL-82, later this year for a 2020 launch. It also plans to award a contract for the second mission, known as NROL-91, in late 2017 with a tentative launch date of 2023.
External links
- [Link dead] The Current NSS Launch Manifest, 2001–2020 (page 83)
- National Security Space Launch Report (pages 112)
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