List of NRO launches

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National Reconnaissance Office

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 identification of many of the payloads.

Launch statistics[edit]

Launch vehicle families[edit]

  •   Titan
  •   Atlas
  •   Taurus/Minotaur
  •   Delta
  •   Falcon

Launch sites[edit]

  •   Vandenberg (CA)
  •   Cape Canaveral (FL)
  •   Kennedy (FL)
  •   Wallops Island (VA)

Launch history[edit]

Launch
designation 		Nickname Satellite
designation 		Date/Time (GMT) 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 NROL-1 Mission Patch.png
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 Molniya Trumpet ELINT Active NROL-4 Mission Patch.png
L-5 Capricorn[1] USA-137[1] January 29, 1998
18:37 		CCAFS SLC-36A Atlas IIA Molniya Quasar[1] Communications Active NROL-5 Mission Patch.png
L-6 Jack USA-139[4] May 9, 1998
01:38 		CCAFS SLC-40 Titan IV/Centaur GSO Orion ELINT NROL-6 Dragon Mission Patch.png
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 NROL-8 Mission Patch.png 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] NROL-9 Mission Patch.png 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 NROL-10 Mission Patch.png
L-11 Onyx/Vega USA-152 August 17, 2000
23:45 		VAFB SLC-4E Titan IVB LEO Lacrosse Radar imaging Active NROL-11 Mission Patch.png Lacrosse4 L2 patch sml.jpg
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 NROL-12 Mission Patch.png
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 NROL-13 Mission Patch.png 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] NROL-14 Mission Patch.png
L-15 USA-237 June 29, 2012
13:15[8] 		CCAFS SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy
(first RS-68A upgrade) 		GSO Mentor* ELINT Active NROL-15 Mission Patch.png * - 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 Lacrosse5 M patch.jpg
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 NROL-17 Mission Patch.png
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 NROL-18 Mission Patch.png 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 NROL19 USA171 patch.jpg
L-20 USA-186[4] October 19, 2005
18:05[13] 		VAFB SLC-4E Titan IVB LEO KH-11 Optical imaging Active NROL-20 Mission Patch.png 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 NROL-21 Mission Patch.png Failed immediately after launch. Destroyed by ASAT on 2008-02-21.
L-22 USA-184[1] June 28, 2006
03:33 		VAFB SLC-6 Delta IV M+(4,2) Molniya Improved Trumpet[1] ELINT Active NROL-22 Mission Patch.png
L-23 Canis Minor[1] USA-181[1] February 3, 2005
07:41 		CCAFS SLC-36B Atlas IIIB LEO Intruder[1] Naval reconnaissance Active NROL23 NOSS3 3patch.jpg 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 NROL24 USA198 patch.jpg
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 NROL-25-patch.jpg
L-26 USA-202 January 18, 2009
02:47 		CCAFS SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy GSO Orion ELINT Active NROL26 USA202 patch.jpg
L-27 Gryphon[11] USA-227 March 11, 2011
23:38 		CCAFS SLC-37B Delta IV M+(4,2) GSO Quasar Communications Active NROL-27 Mission Patch.png
L-28 USA-200 March 13, 2008
10:02 		VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 411 Molniya Improved Trumpet[17] ELINT Active NROL28 USA200 patch.jpg
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 NROL-30 Mission Patch.png 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 NROL-32 Patch.png
L-33[22] USA-252 May 22, 2014
13:09 		CCAFS SLC-41 Atlas V 401 GSO Quasar Communications Active NROL-33 mission patch.png
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] NROL-34 Mission Patch.png Two satellites
L-35 USA-259 December 13, 2014
03:19 		VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 541 Molniya Trumpet (third generation)[17] ELINT Active NROL35.jpg 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

NROL-36 Logo.jpg

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 NROL-37 Mission Patch.png Likely the seventh so called Mentor/Orion satellite for the National Security Agency.[17]
L-38[30] Drake[31] USA-236 June 20, 2012
12:28[15] 		CCAFS SLC-41 Atlas V 401 GSO Quasar Communications Active National Reconnaissance Office NROL-38 launch patch.jpg
L-39[32] USA-247 December 6, 2013
07:14[33] 		VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 501 LEO Topaz Radar imaging Active NROL 39 vector logo.svg
L-41[19] Gladys[11] USA-215[1] September 21, 2010
04:03[20] 		VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 501 LEO (retrograde)[34] 1058 × 1072 km [35] Topaz Radar imaging Operational NROL-41 Mission Patch.png
L-42[36] USA-278 September 24, 2017 05:49:47 VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 541 Molniya Trumpet (third generation)[17] ELINT Launched[37] NROL-42 Mission Patch.png
L-44[36] - June 2020[38] CCAFS SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy GSO Orion[17] SIGINT[29] Awaiting launch
L-45[32] USA-267 February 10, 2016 11:40 VAFB SLC-6 Delta IV M+(5,2) LEO (retrograde)[39] 1084 x 1086 km x 123 deg[40] Topaz Radar imaging Launched NROL-45 Logo 2.jpg NROL-45 Logo.png
L-47 USA-281 January 12, 2018 22:11 VAFB SLC-6 Delta IV M+(5,2) LEO (retrograde) Topaz[17] Radar imaging Launched NROL-47Patch.png
L-49[19] Betty[11] USA-224 January 20, 2011
21:10[41] 		VAFB SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy LEO 239 x 1005 km[42] KH-11[41] Optical imaging Operational NROL-49 Mission Patch.png
L-52[36] USA-279 October 15, 2017 07:28 CCAFS SLC-41 Atlas V 421 GSO Quasar 21[17] Communications Launched NROL-52 Mission Patch.png
L-55[36] USA-264 October 8, 2015
12:49 		VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 401 LEO 1000 x 1200 km x 63.4°[43] Intruder Naval SIGINT ELINT[17] Launched Mission "patch" of NROL-55: a weapon smith (Hephaestus) is forging a sword. "SUSTENTANTES BELLATORES DE CÆLIS" means something like "In sustained support for the warriors, from the sky/or heaven" Two classified satellites (NROL-55) and 13 cubesats.
L-61[36] Spike[44] USA-269 July 28, 2016

12:37[45]

CCAFS SLC-41 Atlas V 421 GSO[46] Quasar 20[46][17] Communications Launched NROL-61 Mission Patch.png
L-65[47] USA-245 August 28, 2013
18:03 		VAFB SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy LEO KH-11 Optical imaging Launched NROL-65 Mission Patch.png
L-66[48] USA-225 February 6, 2011
12:26 		VAFB SLC-8 Minotaur I LEO RPP Technology Operational NROL-66 Patch.png
L-67 [49] USA-250 April 10, 2014
17:45 		CCAFS SLC-41 Atlas V 541 Launched NROL-67 Mission Patch.png
L-68[29] - H2 2022[50] CCAFS SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy Awaiting launch
L-70[29] - February 2024 CCAFS SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy Awaiting launch
L-71[36] USA-290 January 19, 2019
19:05[15][50] 		VAFB SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy LEO KH-11[17] Optical imaging Launched NROL 71.png
L-76[51] USA-276 May 1, 2017
11:15[52] 		Kennedy LC-39A Falcon 9 Full Thrust LEO[53][54] Launched NROL-76 mission patch.jpg
L-79[36][55] USA-274 March 1, 2017
17:50[56] 		VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 401 LEO Intruder 8[17] Naval reconnaissance Launched NROL-79 patch.jpg Two classified satellites sharing a designation
L-82[29][57] - September 2020[58] VAFB SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy Electro-optical surveillance Awaiting launch
L-85[59] - December 2021 CCAFS Falcon 9 Full Thrust LEO 63° [60] Intruder Naval reconnaissance Awaiting launch
L-87[59] - December 2021[50] VAFB Falcon 9 Full Thrust SSO [60] Awaiting launch
L-91[57] - H2 2022 VAFB SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy Awaiting launch
L-101[36] - August 2020 CCAFS SLC-41 Atlas V 551 Awaiting launch
L-107[59] - March 2022 CCAFS SLC-41 Atlas V GSO 42464 x 41864km x 0° Silent Barker Situational Awareness [61] Awaiting launch
L-111[62][63] - 2020[50] Wallops Flight Facility Minotaur I Technology Awaiting Launch
L-129[64][65] - February 15, 2020 Wallops Flight Facility Minotaur IV / Orion 38 Awaiting Launch
Launch
Designation 		Launch Name Satellite
Designation 		Launch
Date/Time (GMT) 		Launch Site Rocket Orbit Project Function Status Patch Remarks

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive – US Military Launch Record. None. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x 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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i Encyclopedia Astronautica – Delta 7000 Archived March 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b c d Spaceflight Now: Worldwide launch schedule. Spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved on Feb 3, 2012.
  16. ^ "Spaceflight Now - Delta Launch Report – Launch warnings show Delta 4 headed for backwards orbit".
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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. ^ a b c Spaceflight Now: Worldwide launch schedule. Spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  20. ^ a b c d 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.
  24. ^ [1][dead link]
  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. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av023/images/NROL38logo.jpg
  32. ^ a b "18 -- Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) - Federal Business Opportunities: Opportunities".
  33. ^ NRO Press Release 2013-04
  34. ^ Barhorst, Leo (October 1, 2010). "Reason for FIA Radar 1/USA 215 retrograde orbit?". Retrieved October 2, 2010.
  35. ^ Molczan, Ted (September 22, 2010). "NROL 41". Retrieved October 2, 2010.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h "2016 manifest preview: United Launch Alliance's busy year ahead". Spaceflight Now. April 20, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  37. ^ NROL-42 launch time:0549 GMT
  38. ^ ""2/2 After Thursday's Delta 4-Medium swan song, ULA plans two Delta 4-Heavy missions next year, both for the NRO. First up is NROL-44 from Cape Canaveral in June 2020, followed by NROL-82 from Vandenberg AFB in September 2020."".
  39. ^ "ULA Delta IV launches with NROL-45 | NASASpaceFlight.com". www.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  40. ^ 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 deg orbit following today's launch from Vandenberg
  41. ^ a b Graham, William (January 20, 2011). "Delta IV Heavy launches on debut West Coast launch with NRO L-49". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  42. ^ Molczan, Ted (January 22, 2011). "RE: NROL-49 search elements".
  43. ^ Graham, William (October 7, 2015). "NROL-55 takes a ride uphill on ULA Atlas V". NASA Spaceflight.
  44. ^ Ray, Justin (July 28, 2016). "Spy satellite infrastructure supported by successful Atlas 5 rocket launch". Spaceflight Now.
  45. ^ Graham, William (July 28, 2016). "Atlas V successfully launches NROL-61 reconnaissance satellite". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  46. ^ a b "NROL-61 satellite launched Thursday spotted in space by sky-watchers". Spaceflight Now. July 30, 2016.
  47. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  48. ^ Graham, William (February 6, 2011). "Orbital's Minotaur I launches with NROL-66". nasaspaceflight.com.
  49. ^ "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.
  50. ^ a b c d 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". Spacefligh 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. ^ a b 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. ^ ""2/2 After Thursday's Delta 4-Medium swan song, ULA plans two Delta 4-Heavy missions next year, both for the NRO. First up is NROL-44 from Cape Canaveral in June 2020, followed by NROL-82 from Vandenberg AFB in September 2020."".
  59. ^ a b c Ray, Justin (June 30, 2017). "Air Force selects Atlas 5 to launch multipurpose satellite to high orbit". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  60. ^ a b "NROL launches". Gunter's Space Page. February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  61. ^ Erwin, Sandra. "Air Force awards $739 million in launch contracts to ULA and SpaceX". Space News. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  62. ^ Clark, Stephen (January 12, 2017). "Minotaur rocket launch for NRO expected at Wallops by end of 2018". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  63. ^ "NROL-111". Gunters Space Page.
  64. ^ Clark, Stephen (March 21, 2019). "Two Minotaur launches planned this year from Virginia". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  65. ^ "NROL-129". Gunters Space Page.

External links[edit]

  • [2] National Security Space Launch Report (pages 112)

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