Tag: National Reconnaissance Office
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Preview: New satellite for spy agency awaits launch into space Thursday
File photo of Atlas 5-421 rollout. Credit: ULA CAPE CANAVERAL — An Atlas 5 rocket carrying a classified national security satellite was rolled to the launch pad this morning for Thursday’s flight to bolster the U.S. intelligence-gathering space architecture. Liftoff will occur at 8:37 a.m. EDT (1237 GMT). The duration of the day’s usable launch…
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Photos: Atlas 5 rocket moved to launch pad for Thursday takeoff
Ready to deliver 1.5 million pounds of thrust Thursday morning, an Atlas 5 rocket was rolled from its assembly building to the launch pad today for its national security satellite-deployment flight. The United Launch Alliance rocket, equipped with two strap-on solid-propellant boosters for added performance, will launch the clandestine NROL-61 payload for the U.S. National…
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Secret NRO satellite mounted atop Atlas 5 rocket for July 28 launch
Editor’s note July 20: Story updated with launch time announcement. File photo of Atlas 5 payload installation. Credit: ULA CAPE CANAVERAL — Crews hoisted a covert spacecraft atop an Atlas 5 booster rocket this morning for its trek into an equatorial orbit next week. United Launch Alliance will perform the deployment mission on July 28…
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Mystery payload for spy satellite agency launching aboard next Atlas 5
The NROL-61 poster. Credit: United Launch Alliance CAPE CANAVERAL — United Launch Alliance is preparing an Atlas 5 rocket to boost an undercover satellite into orbit for national security later this month. Details are scarce and informed speculation is nonexistent in the lead up to launching the clandestine NROL-61 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance…
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Photos: More shots of Saturday’s Delta 4-Heavy rocket Launch
Departing on three pillars of fire, the United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket lifted off at 1:51 p.m. from Cape Canaveral for a classified national security satellite deployment. Photos by Alex Polimeni/Spaceflight Now See earlier Delta 374 coverage. Our Delta archive.
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Photos: Spectacular start to Delta 4-Heavy’s satellite deployment mission
The United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket fired away from Cape Canaveral at 1:51 p.m. EDT Saturday to deploy a covert surveillance satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. Credit: Walter Scriptunas II / Scriptunas Images See earlier Delta 374 coverage. Our Delta archive.
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Photos: Gantry rollback for second launch attempt
After being put back in position around the Delta 4-Heavy rocket after Thursday’s weather scrub, the 330-foot tall mobile service tower is retracted again at Cape Canaveral’s pad 37B for launch that will place the NROL-37 payload into Earth orbit. Photos by Alex Polimeni/Spaceflight Now See earlier Delta 374 coverage. Our Delta archive.
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Recap story: Triple-barrel Delta 4-Heavy launches national security satellite
CAPE CANAVERAL — Two million pounds of firepower successfully launched a behemoth Delta 4-Heavy rocket and a top-secret eavesdropping surveillance satellite into space today, embarking on a taxing climb directly into geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the Earth to deploy one of the pinnacles of U.S. intelligence-gathering. Igniting its three hydrogen-fueled main engines in staggered…
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Video: America’s most capable rocket ascends from Cape Canaveral on NROL-37
The United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket, standing 235 feet tall and weighing 1.6 million pounds fully fueled, unleashes 2.1 million pounds of thrust from the three RS-68A main engines at 1:51 p.m. EDT (1751 GMT) today to launch from Cape Canaveral on NROL-37. Video courtesy of United Launch Alliance See earlier Delta 374 coverage.…
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Photos: Delta 4-Heavy launch as seen from press site
Members of the news media — reporters and photographers — witnessed the United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket lifted off from the ITL Causeway on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, about 1.7 miles from the pad. Photos by Alex Polimeni/Spaceflight Now See earlier Delta 374 coverage. Our Delta archive.