Tag: NROL
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Atlas V successfully launches NROL-101
United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket carried a National Reconnaissance Office satellite to orbit Friday in a launch that marked a major milestone for the next-generation Vulcan rocket as Atlas V debuted the new GEM-63 solid rocket boosters from Northrop Grumman — the start of a switch away from the Aerojet Rocketdyne boosters. Liftoff is…
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Northrop Grumman readies for debut Minotaur IV launch from MARS
For the first time in its 10-year flight history, the Minotaur IV rocket is preparing to make its inaugural launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, MARS, on Wallops Island, Virginia. The classified mission from the National Reconnaissance Office, known as NROL-129, is set to launch sometime within a launch window that opens at 09:00 EDT…
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Rocket Lab begins 2020 launch campaign with dedicated NRO mission
After successfully launching six missions and over 20 payloads to orbit in 2019, Rocket Lab conducted its first launch of 2020 using its Electron rocket. The mission lifted off from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand to carry the classified NROL-151 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The 14-day launch window is set…
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Rocket Lab announces NRO mission as agency diversifies launch providers
Rocket Lab has announced its first mission of 2020 – a dedicated launch for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Their workhorse Electron rocket, launching from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, will loft the classified NROL-151 satellite to an unknown orbit. The mission was awarded by the NRO as part of their Rapid Acquisition of…
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ULA Delta IV successfully launches NROL-47
United Launch Alliance launched a Delta IV rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, carrying the classified NROL-47 mission for the US National Reconnaissance Office. Following a scrub on Thursday, liftoff occurred on Friday at 22:10 UTC. NRO Launch 47, or NROL-47, is a national security payload that will be operated by the National Reconnaissance Office…
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Atlas V successfully launches with NROL-52
United Launch Alliance’s clandestine Atlas V launch in support of the US National Reconnaissance Office finally departed SLC-41 on Sunday, after previously failing to dodge bad weather and then suffering a telemetry transmitter issue. Liftoff of NROL-52 from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station occurred at 07:28 Eastern. NROL Launch: Following an earlier scrub after…
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Atlas V successfully launches with NROL-52
United Launch Alliance’s clandestine Atlas V launch in support of the US National Reconnaissance Office finally departed SLC-41 on Sunday, after previously failing to dodge bad weather and then suffering a telemetry transmitter issue. Liftoff of NROL-52 from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station occurred at 07:28 Eastern. NROL Launch: Following an earlier scrub after…
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Atlas V launches NROL-42 spy satellite
United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched an Atlas V rocket on Saturday evening, carrying out the classified NROL-42 mission for the United States National Reconnaissance Office. Atlas – delayed two days via the requirement to changeout a battery on the booster – lifted off from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base at 22:49 Pacific Time (05:49 UTC…
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SpaceX Falcon 9 launches first NRO mission with NROL-76
SpaceX conducted its first dedicated launch for the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on Monday, with a Falcon 9 carrying out the NROL-76 mission. Liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39A was within a two-hour window, with T-0 occurring at 07:15 Eastern time (11:15 UTC). SpaceX launch: Sunday’s initial attempt was scrubbed after a…
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Atlas V launches 70th mission with NROL-79 from Vandenberg
For its second launch of the year, the Atlas V rocket marked its 70th mission to space on Wednesday as the veteran rocket lofted the National Reconnaissance Office’s NROL-79 spacecraft to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Liftoff took place from SLC-3E at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, at 0950 PST (1750 UTC), the opening of a…