List of NRO launches

Official mission patch from NRO Launch-39

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. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 NRO codenames. Forum.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  4. ↑ National Reconnaissance Office Satellite Destroyed August 19, 1998
  5. 1 2 3 National Reconnaissance Satellite Successfully Launched May 22, 1999
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ NRO Successfully Launches Last Titan from Cape Canaveral April 29, 2005
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Encyclopedia Astronautica – Delta 7000 Archived March 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Re: NROL codenames". nasaspaceflight.com. 2011-01-22.
  10. ↑ NRO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES PAYLOAD FROM TITAN IV September 10, 2003
  11. ↑ NRO Payload Takes Last Ride Aboard Titan IV October 20, 2005
  12. ↑ NROL-25 Mission Status
  13. 1 2 3 Spaceflight Now: Worldwide launch schedule. Spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved on Feb 3, 2012.
  14. ↑ Delta 4 headed for backwards orbit
  15. ↑ http://www.comspacewatch.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=16796
  16. 1 2 3 Spaceflight Now: Worldwide launch schedule. Spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Atlas Launch Report | Mission Status Center. Spaceflight Now. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  18. ↑ Delta IV Heavy launches with NROL-32. NASASpaceFlight.com (2010-11-21). Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  19. ↑ http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/MissionData.php?mission=NROL-33
  20. ↑ :::: United Launch Alliance, LLC ::::. Ulalaunch.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  21. ↑
  22. ↑ http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=38758
  23. ↑ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=2012-048A
  24. ↑ http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/30/
  25. ↑ "Triple-barrel Delta 4-Heavy launches national security satellite". Spaceflight Now. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  26. 1 2 3 4 Ray, Justin (June 7, 2016). "Surveillance satellite launching Thursday atop Delta 4-Heavy rocket". Spaceflight Now.
  27. 1 2 "Gunter's Space Page". 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  28. ↑ http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/MissionData.php?mission=NROL-38
  29. ↑ http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av023/images/NROL38logo.jpg
  30. 1 2 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=3f220ddfda92019ff7ad72adcde4e37c&tab=core&_cview=1
  31. ↑ NRO Press Release 2013-04
  32. ↑ Barhorst, Leo (2010-10-01). "Reason for FIA Radar 1/USA 215 retrograde orbit?". Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  33. ↑ Molczan, Ted (2010-09-22). "NROL 41". Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  34. 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.
  35. ↑ "ULA Delta IV launches with NROL-45 | NASASpaceFlight.com". www.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  36. ↑ 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
  37. 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.
  38. ↑ Molczan, Ted (2011-01-22). "RE: NROL-49 search elements".
  39. ↑ Graham, William (2015-10-07). "NROL-55 takes a ride uphill on ULA Atlas V". NASA Spaceflight.
  40. ↑ Ray, Justin (July 28, 2016). "Spy satellite infrastructure supported by successful Atlas 5 rocket launch". Spaceflight Now.
  41. ↑ Graham, William (2016-07-28). "Atlas V successfully launches NROL-61 reconnaissance satellite". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  42. 1 2 "NROL-61 satellite launched Thursday spotted in space by sky-watchers". Spaceflight Now. July 30, 2016.
  43. ↑ http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/MissionData.php?mission=NROL-65
  44. ↑ Graham, William (2011-02-06). "Orbital's Minotaur I launches with NROL-66". nasaspaceflight.com.
  45. ↑ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Mission in Just Seven Days". United Launch Alliance. Retrieved 2014-04-11.
  46. ↑ Gruss, Mike. "NRO discloses previously unannounced launch contract for SpaceX". SpaceNews. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  47. ↑ USAF. "EELV PHASE 1A NROL-79 Request For Proposal".
  48. 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

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