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 led to the identification of many of the payloads.

The National Reconnaissance Office logo.

Launch statistics

Launch vehicle families
  •   Titan
  •   Atlas
  •   Taurus/Minotaur
  •   Delta
  •   Falcon
  •   Electron

Launch sites
  •   Vandenberg (CA)
  •   Cape Canaveral (FL)
  •   Kennedy (FL)
  •   Wallops Island (VA)
  •   Mahia (New Zealand)

Launch history
Launch
designation		 Payload
nickname		 Satellite
designation		 Date/Time (UTC) Launch site Rocket Orbit Project Function Status Patch Remarks
L-1 Nemesis [1] USA-179 [1] August 31, 2004
23:17 [2]		 CCAFS, SLC-36A [2] Atlas IIAS [2] Molniya Quasar [1] Communications [2] Active
L-2 USA-129 December 20, 1996
18:04		 VAFB, SLC-4E Titan IV LEO KH-11 Optical imaging Reentered April 24, 2014 [3]
L-3 USA-133 October 24, 1997
02:32		 VAFB, SLC-4E Titan IV LEO Lacrosse ELINT Active
L-4 Oscar USA-136 November 8, 1997
02:05		 CCAFS, SLC-41 Titan IV/Centaur Molniya Trumpet ELINT Active
L-5 Capricorn [1] USA-137 [1] January 29, 1998
18:37		 CCAFS, SLC-36A Atlas IIA Molniya Quasar [1] Communications Active
L-6 Jack USA-139 [4] May 9, 1998
01:38		 CCAFS, SLC-40 Titan IV/Centaur GSO Orion ELINT
L-7 Elwood N/A August 12, 1998
11:30		 CCAFS, SLC-41 Titan IV/Centaur GSO (planned) Mercury ELINT Destroyed "Cheers! Saving the Best for Last!!" Rocket self-destructed 40 seconds into launch due to guidance problem.[5]
L-8 USA-140, USA-141 October 3, 1998
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] May 22, 1999
09:36 [6]		 VAFB, SLC-4E [6] Titan IVB [6] Misty [1] Optical imaging[1] First Titan IV-B launch from VAFB.
L-10 Ursa Major [1]
(Great Bear)		 USA-155 [1] December 6, 2000
02:47 [2]		 CCAFS, SLC-36A [2] Atlas IIAS [2] GSO [2] Quasar [1] Communications [2] Active
L-11 Onyx / Vega USA-152 August 17, 2000
23:45		 VAFB, SLC-4E Titan IVB LEO Lacrosse Radar imaging Active
L-12 Aquila [1] USA-162 [1] October 11, 2001
02:32 [2]		 CCAFS, SLC-36B [2] Atlas IIAS [2] GSO [2] Quasar [1] Communications Active
L-13 Gemini [1] USA-160 [1] September 8, 2001
15:25		 VAFB, SLC-3E [2] Atlas IIAS [2] LEO [2] Intruder [1] Naval reconnaissance [2] Active Two satellites.[2]
L-14 USA-161 October 5, 2001
21:21		 VAFB, SLC-4E Titan IVB LEO KH-11 Optical reconnaissance Reentered late 2014. [7]
L-15 USA-237 June 29, 2012
13:15 [8]		 CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy
(first RS-68A upgrade)		 GSO Mentor * ELINT Active * or follow-on.
L-16 Prometheus USA-182 [4] April 30, 2005
00:50 [9]		 CCAFS, SLC-40 Titan IVB LEO Lacrosse Radar imaging Active
L-17 GeoLITE [1] USA-158 [1] May 18, 2001
17:45 [10]		 CCAFS, SLC-17B [10] Delta II 7925-9.5 [10] GSO [10] GeoLITE [1] Technology demonstration[10] Active
L-18 Libra [1] USA-173 [1] December 2, 2003
10:04 [2]		 VAFB, SLC-3E [2] Atlas IIAS [2] LEO [2] Intruder [1] Naval reconnaissance [2] Active Two satellites.[2]
L-19 Homer [11] USA-171 [4] September 9, 2003
04:29 [12]		 CCAFS, SLC-40 Titan IVB-Centaur GSO Orion ELINT Active
L-20 USA-186 [4] October 19, 2005
18:05 [13]		 VAFB, SLC-4E Titan IVB LEO KH-11 Optical imaging Active Last launch of a Titan rocket.
L-21 USA-193 [1] December 14, 2006
21:00 [10]		 VAFB, SLC-2W [10] Delta II 7920-10 [10] LEO [10] Unknown Unknown Failed; intentionally destroyed in 2008. Failed immediately after launch. Destroyed by ASAT on 21 February 2008.
L-22 USA-184 [1] June 28, 2006
03:33		 VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV M+(4,2) Molniya Improved Trumpet [1] ELINT Active
L-23 Canis Minor [1] USA-181 [1] February 3, 2005
07:41		 CCAFS, SLC-36B Atlas IIIB LEO Intruder [1] Naval reconnaissance Active Two satellites.
L-24 Scorpius [1] USA-198 [1] December 10, 2007
22:05		 CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 401 Molniya Quasar [1] Communications Active
L-25 Altair USA-234 April 3, 2012
23:12 [14][15]		 VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV M+(5,2) Retrograde LEO [16] Topaz Radar imaging Active
L-26 USA-202 January 18, 2009
02:47		 CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy GSO Orion ELINT Active
L-27 Gryphon [11] USA-227 March 11, 2011
23:38		 CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV M+(4,2) GSO Quasar Communications Active
L-28 USA-200 March 13, 2008
10:02		 VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 411 Molniya Improved Trumpet [17] ELINT Active
L-29 N/A VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 521 [18] Cancelled
L-30 Pyxis [1] USA-194 [1] June 15, 2007
15:12		 CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 401 [1] LEO Intruder [1] Naval reconnaissance Active Two satellites.
Premature 2nd stage cutoff during launch. Lifetime reduced by need to correct orbit.
L-32 [19] USA-223 November 21, 2010
22:58 [20]		 CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy GSO Orion [21] ELINT Operational
L-33 [22] USA-252 May 22, 2014
13:09		 CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 401 GSO Quasar Communications Active
L-34 Odin[23] USA-229 April 15, 2011
04:24		 VAFB, SLC-3E[20] Atlas V 411[20] LEO Intruder Naval SIGINT Operational[24] Two satellites
L-35 Jacquelyn USA-259 December 13, 2014
03:19		 VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 541 Molniya Trumpet (third generation)[17] ELINT Active First flight of the RL10C-1 rocket engine, used by the Centaur upper stage
L-36 [25] USA-238[26] September 13, 2012
21:39[15]		 VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 401[27] LEO Intruder SIGINT Launched

Two satellites sharing a designation
L-37 [28] USA-268 June 11, 2016
17:51		 CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy GSO Orion SIGINT[29] Launched Likely the seventh so called Mentor/Orion satellite for the National Security Agency.[17]
L-38 [30] Drake USA-236 June 20, 2012
12:28[15]		 CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 401 GSO Quasar Communications Active
L-39 [31] USA-247 December 6, 2013
07:14[32]		 VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 501 LEO Topaz Radar imaging Active
L-41 [19] Gladys[11] USA-215[1] September 21, 2010
04:03[20]		 VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 501 LEO (retrograde)[33] 1058 × 1072 km [34] Topaz Radar imaging Operational
L-42 [35] USA-278 September 24, 2017 05:49:47 VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 541 Molniya Trumpet (third generation)[17] ELINT Launched[36]
L-44 [35] - August 26, 2020[37] CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy GSO Orion[17] SIGINT[29] Awaiting launch
L-45 [31] USA-267 February 10, 2016 11:40 VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV M+(5,2) LEO (retrograde)[38] 1084 x 1086 km x 123°[39] Topaz Radar imaging Launched
L-47 USA-281 January 12, 2018 22:11 VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV M+(5,2) LEO (retrograde) Topaz[17] Radar imaging Launched
L-49 [19] Betty[11] USA-224 January 20, 2011
21:10[40]		 VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy LEO 239 x 1005 km[41] KH-11[40] Optical imaging Operational
L-52 [35] USA-279 October 15, 2017 07:28 CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 421 GSO Quasar 21[17] Communications Launched
L-55 [35] USA-264 October 8, 2015
12:49		 VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 401 LEO 1000 x 1200 km x 63.4°[42] Intruder Naval SIGINT ELINT[17] Launched Two classified satellites (NROL-55) and 13 cubesats.
L-61 [35] Spike[43] USA-269 July 28, 2016

12:37[44]

 CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 421 GSO[45] Quasar 20[45][17] Communications Launched
L-65 [46] USA-245 August 28, 2013
18:03		 VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy LEO KH-11 Optical imaging Launched
L-66 [47] USA-225 February 6, 2011
12:26		 VAFB, SLC-8 Minotaur I LEO RPP Technology Operational
L-67 [48] USA-250 April 10, 2014
17:45		 CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 541 Launched
L-68 [29] - 2023[49] CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy Awaiting launch
L-70 [29] - 2024[49] CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy Awaiting launch
L-71 [35] USA-290 January 19, 2019
19:05[15][50]		 VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy LEO KH-11[17] Optical imaging Launched
L-76 [51] USA-276 May 1, 2017
11:15[52]		 KSC, LC-39A Falcon 9 Full Thrust LEO[53][54] Launched
L-79 [35][55] USA-274 March 1, 2017
17:50[56]		 VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 401 LEO Intruder 8[17] Naval reconnaissance Launched Two classified satellites sharing a designation
L-82 [29][57] - Q4 2020[58] VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy Electro-optical surveillance Awaiting launch
L-85 [59] - December 2021 CC, 39A or 40 Falcon 9 Block 5 LEO 63° [60] Intruder Naval reconnaissance Awaiting launch
L-87 [59] - December 2021[50] VAFB, SLC-4E Falcon 9 Block 5 SSO [60] Awaiting launch
L-91 [57] - H2 2022[61] VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy Awaiting launch
L-101 [35] - September 2020[58] CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 531 Awaiting launch
L-107 [59] - March 2022 CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 551 GSO 42464 x 41864 km x 0° Silent Barker Situational Awareness [62] Awaiting launch
L-111 [63][64] - Q4 2020 [58] MARS, LP-0B Minotaur I Technology Awaiting Launch
L-129 [65][66] - July 15, 2020 MARS, LP-0B Minotaur IV / Orion 38 Awaiting Launch
L-151 [67][68] USA-294 [69] 31 January 2020
02:56 [70]		 Mahia, LC-1A Electron LEO Technology Launched First Rocket Lab Electron launch. First launch from outside the United States (New Zealand). Flew on Rocket Lab's "Birds of a Feather" mission.
Undesignated [71] USA-301
USA-302
USA-303		 13 June 2020
05:12		 Mahia, LC-1A Electron Launched Three technology demonstration smallsats. Primary customer of the rideshare mission procured under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) program. Flew on Rocket Lab's "Don't Stop Me Now" mission.
TBD [72] - Late Spring 2021 Mahia, LC-1A Electron Awaiting Launch Back-to-back launch under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) program.
TBD [72] - Late Spring 2021 Mahia, LC-1B Electron Awaiting Launch Back-to-back launch under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) program.
Launch
Designation		 Launch Name Satellite
Designation		 Launch
Date/Time (UTC)		 Launch Site Rocket Orbit Project Function Status Patch Remarks

See also

References
  1. Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive – US Military Launch Record. None. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  2. Encyclopedia Astronautica – Atlas IIAS. Astronautix.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  3. "USA 224 recovered, USA 186 still drifting, and looking for GPS IIF-6 20 minutes after launch". Marco Langbroek. May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  4. NRO codenames. Forum.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  5. "National Reconnaissance Office Satellite Destroyed August 19, 1998" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  6. National Reconnaissance Satellite Successfully Launched May 22, 1999 Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "USA 224 recovered: an update of the KH-11 constellation". Marco Langbroek. June 30, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  8. Space Videos (June 29, 2012). "[Delta] Launch of Delta IV Heavy with NROL-15 Payload" – via YouTube.
  9. NRO Successfully Launches Last Titan from Cape Canaveral April 29, 2005 Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  10. Encyclopedia Astronautica – Delta 7000 Archived March 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Re: NROL codenames". nasaspaceflight.com. January 22, 2011.
  12. NRO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES PAYLOAD FROM TITAN IV September 10, 2003 Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  13. NRO Payload Takes Last Ride Aboard Titan IV October 20, 2005 Archived August 26, 2006, at Archive.today
  14. "Spaceflight Now - Delta Launch Report – Mission Status Center".
  15. Spaceflight Now: Worldwide launch schedule. Spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved on February 3, 2012.
  16. "Spaceflight Now - Delta Launch Report – Launch warnings show Delta 4 headed for backwards orbit".
  17. Krebs, Gunter. "NROL launches". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. Spaceflight Now: Worldwide launch schedule. Spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  20. Atlas Launch Report | Mission Status Center. Spaceflight Now. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  21. Delta IV Heavy launches with NROL-32. NASASpaceFlight.com (2010-11-21). Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. :::: United Launch Alliance, LLC :::: Archived September 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Ulalaunch.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  25. "Technical details for satellite USA 238".
  26. "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details".
  27. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/30/ Archived September 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  28. "Triple-barrel Delta 4-Heavy launches national security satellite". Spaceflight Now. June 11, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  29. Ray, Justin (June 7, 2016). "Surveillance satellite launching Thursday atop Delta 4-Heavy rocket". Spaceflight Now.
  30. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. "18 -- Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) - Federal Business Opportunities: Opportunities".
  32. NRO Press Release 2013-04
  33. Barhorst, Leo (October 1, 2010). "Reason for FIA Radar 1/USA 215 retrograde orbit?". Retrieved October 2, 2010.
  34. Molczan, Ted (September 22, 2010). "NROL 41". Retrieved October 2, 2010.
  35. "2016 manifest preview: United Launch Alliance's busy year ahead". Spaceflight Now. April 20, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  36. NROL-42 launch time:0549 GMT
  37. Clark, Stephen. "Spy satellite launch on Delta 4-Heavy rocket delayed to August – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  38. "ULA Delta IV launches with NROL-45 | NASASpaceFlight.com". www.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  39. McDowell, Jonathan (February 10, 2016). "Twitter". Retrieved February 13, 2016. TOPAZ 4 (USA 267) has been observed by hobbyist @cgbassa in a 1084 x 1086 km x 123° orbit following today's launch from Vandenberg
  40. Graham, William (January 20, 2011). "Delta IV Heavy launches on debut West Coast launch with NRO L-49". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  41. Molczan, Ted (January 22, 2011). "RE: NROL-49 search elements".
  42. Graham, William (October 7, 2015). "NROL-55 takes a ride uphill on ULA Atlas V". NASA Spaceflight.
  43. Ray, Justin (July 28, 2016). "Spy satellite infrastructure supported by successful Atlas 5 rocket launch". Spaceflight Now.
  44. Graham, William (July 28, 2016). "Atlas V successfully launches NROL-61 reconnaissance satellite". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  45. "NROL-61 satellite launched Thursday spotted in space by sky-watchers". Spaceflight Now. July 30, 2016.
  46. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  47. Graham, William (February 6, 2011). "Orbital's Minotaur I launches with NROL-66". nasaspaceflight.com.
  48. "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Mission in Just Seven Days". United Launch Alliance. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  49. Erwin, Sandra (September 30, 2019). "Air Force awards ULA $1.18 billion contract to complete five Delta 4 Heavy NRO missions". SpaceNews. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  50. Pietrobon, Steven (September 4, 2019). "United States Military Manifest". Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  51. Gruss, Mike. "NRO discloses previously unannounced launch contract for SpaceX". SpaceNews. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  52. Clark, Stephen (April 6, 2017). "Launch schedule". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on December 24, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  53. Klotz, Irene (April 30, 2017). "Secret US Spy Satellite Heading to Low-Earth Orbit, SpaceX Launch License Shows". Space.com. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  54. Clark, Stephen (May 24, 2017). "Observers spot top secret satellite launched by SpaceX earlier this month". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  55. USAF. "EELV PHASE 1A NROL-79 Request For Proposal".
  56. "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-79 Payload for the National Reconnaissance Office".
  57. Gruss, Mike (August 8, 2016). "No complaint from SpaceX as Air Force skips competition for pair of NRO missions". SpaceNews. Retrieved August 10, 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.
  58. Clark, Stephen. "AEHF satellite arrives in Florida for first of nearly 20 Space Force launches this year – Spaceflight Now". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  59. Ray, Justin (June 30, 2017). "Air Force selects Atlas 5 to launch multipurpose satellite to high orbit". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  60. "NROL launches". Gunter's Space Page. February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  61. Henry, Caleb (August 21, 2019). "ULA's Delta 4 Heavy down to final five missions". SpaceNews. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  62. Erwin, Sandra. "Air Force awards $739 million in launch contracts to ULA and SpaceX". Space News. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  63. Clark, Stephen (January 12, 2017). "Minotaur rocket launch for NRO expected at Wallops by end of 2018". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  64. "NROL-111". Gunters Space Page.
  65. Clark, Stephen (March 21, 2019). "Two Minotaur launches planned this year from Virginia". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  66. "NROL-129". Gunters Space Page.
  67. Erwin, Sandra (January 20, 2020). "Rocket Lab to launch small satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office". Space News. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  68. "Birds of a Feather". Rocket Lab. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  69. https://space.skyrocket.de/index.html - 1 February 2020
  70. Lab, Rocket (January 30, 2020). "And we have resumed the count! New target lift-off time is 02:56 UTC (15:56 NZDT / 18:56 PST / 21:56 EST). Still a possibility of standing down due to high ground winds". @RocketLab. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  71. "Don't Stop Me Now". Rocket Lab. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  72. "Rocket Lab wins NRO contracts for back-to-back launches". SpaceNews.com. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  • National Security Space Launch Report (pages 112)

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.