NROL

List of NRO launches

List of NRO launches

American spy satellites

This is a list of NRO Launch (NROL) designations for 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

Launch sites

Launch history

More information Launch designation, Payload nickname ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive – US Military Launch Record None Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  2. [2]
    Encyclopedia Astronautica – Atlas IIAS Astronautix.com Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  3. [3]
    "USA 179". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  4. [4]
    Krebs, Gunter (4 February 2020). "SDS-3 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  5. [5]
    "KH-11 / Kennen / Crystal". Gunter's Space Page. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  6. [6]
    "USA 224 recovered, USA 186 still drifting, and looking for GPS IIF-6 20 minutes after launch". SatTrackCam. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  7. [7]
    "Space Activities in 2014" (PDF). Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  8. [8]
    "Lacrosse 1, 2, 3, 4, 5". Gunter's Space Page. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  9. [9]
    "USA 136". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  10. [10]
    "Trumpet 1, 2, 3". Gunter's Space Page. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  11. [11]
    NRO codenames Forum.nasaspaceflight.com Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  12. [12]
    "USA 139". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  13. [13]
    "Orion 3, 4". Gunter's Space Page. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  14. [14]
    "National Reconnaissance Office Satellite Destroyed 29 August 1998" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2014. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  15. [15]
    National Reconnaissance Satellite Successfully Launched May 22, 1999 Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  16. [16]
    "USA 155". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  17. [17]
    "USA 162". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  18. [18]
    "USA 160". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  19. [19]
    "Intruder 5, ..., 12 (NOSS-3 1, ..., 8)". Gunter's Space Page. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  20. [20]
    "USA 224 recovered: an update of the KH-11 constellation". SatTrackCam. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  21. [21]
    "Space Activities in 2015" (PDF). Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  22. [22]
    Space Videos (29 June 2012). "Launch of Delta IV Heavy with NROL-15 Payload" – via YouTube.
  23. [23]
    "USA 237". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  24. [24]
    "Orion 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12". Gunter's Space Report. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  25. [25]
    NRO Successfully Launches Last Titan from Cape Canaveral April 29, 2005 Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  26. [26]
    "USA 182". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  27. [27]
    Encyclopedia Astronautica – Delta 7000 Archived March 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  28. [28]
    "USA 158". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  29. [29]
    "GeoLITE". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  30. [30]
    "USA 173". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  31. [31]
    "Re: NROL codenames". nasaspaceflight.com. 22 January 2011.
  32. [32]
    NRO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES PAYLOAD FROM TITAN IV September 10, 2003 Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  33. [33]
    "USA 171". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  34. [34]
    NRO Payload Takes Last Ride Aboard Titan IV October 20, 2005 Archived August 26, 2006, at archive.today Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  35. [35]
    "USA 186". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  36. [36]
    "USA 184". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  37. [37]
    "Trumpet 4, 5 / SBIRS HEO-1, 2". Gunter's Space Page. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  38. [38]
    "USA 181". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  39. [39]
    "USA 198". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  40. [40]
    "Delta Launch Report – Mission Status Center". Spaceflight Now.
  41. [41]
    "Launch schedule". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  42. [42]
    "USA 234". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  43. [43]
    "Topaz 1, 2, 3, 4, 5". Gunter's Space Page. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  44. [44]
    "USA 202". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  45. [45]
    "USA 227". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  46. [46]
    "USA 200". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  47. [47]
    "ILS Atlas Adds NRO Mission to West Coast Launch Manifest | Commercial Space Watch". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  48. [48]
    "USA 194". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  49. [49]
    "Launch schedule". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  50. [50]
    "Atlas Launch Report". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  51. [51]
    "USA 223". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  52. [52]
    "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  53. [53]
    "USA 252". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  54. [54]
    :::: United Launch Alliance, LLC :::: Archived September 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Ulalaunch.com Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  55. [55]
    "USA 229". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  56. [56]
    "USA 259". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  57. [57]
    Krebs, Gunter (4 November 2020). "Trumpet 6, 7 / SBIRS HEO-3, 4". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  58. [58]
    "Technical details for satellite USA 238". N2yo.
  59. [59]
    "NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details". NASA. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  60. [60]
    "USA 238". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  61. [61]
    "Triple-barrel Delta 4-Heavy launches national security satellite". Spaceflight Now. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  62. [62]
    "USA 268". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  63. [63]
    Ray, Justin (7 June 2016). "Surveillance satellite launching Thursday atop Delta 4-Heavy rocket". Spaceflight Now.
  64. [64]
    Krebs, Gunter. "NROL launches". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  65. [65]
    "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  66. [66]
    "USA 236". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  67. [67]
    "Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV)". Federal Business Opportunities. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  68. [68]
    NRO Press Release 2013-04 Archived 19 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  69. [69]
    "USA 247". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  70. [70]
    "USA 215". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  71. [71]
    "2016 manifest preview: United Launch Alliance's busy year ahead". Spaceflight Now. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  72. [72]
    "USA 278". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  73. [73]
    "USA 311". N2YO.com. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  74. [74]
    "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-44 Mission to Support National Security". ULA Launch. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  75. [75]
    "USA 267". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  76. [76]
    "USA 281". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  77. [77]
    Graham, William (20 January 2011). "Delta IV Heavy launches on debut West Coast launch with NRO L-49". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  78. [78]
    "USA 224". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  79. [79]
    "USA 279". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  80. [80]
    Krebs, Gunter (4 November 2020). "Quasar 20, 21". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  81. [81]
    "USA 264". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  82. [82]
    Graham, William (7 October 2015). "NROL-55 takes a ride uphill on ULA Atlas V". NASA Spaceflight.
  83. [83]
    Erwin, Sandra (31 October 2023). "Space Force assigns 21 national security missions to ULA and SpaceX". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  84. [84]
    Ray, Justin (28 July 2016). "Spy satellite infrastructure supported by successful Atlas 5 rocket launch". Spaceflight Now.
  85. [85]
    Graham, William (28 July 2016). "Atlas V successfully launches NROL-61 reconnaissance satellite". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  86. [86]
    "USA 269". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  87. [87]
    "NROL-61 satellite launched Thursday spotted in space by sky-watchers". Spaceflight Now. 30 July 2016.
  88. [88]
    "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  89. [89]
    "USA 245". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  90. [90]
    Graham, William (6 February 2011). "Orbital's Minotaur I launches with NROL-66". nasaspaceflight.com.
  91. [91]
    "USA 225". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  92. [92]
    "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Mission in Just Seven Days". United Launch Alliance. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  93. [93]
    "USA 250". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  94. [94]
    Graham, William (22 June 2023). "ULA's penultimate Delta IV Heavy launches NROL-68 mission". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  95. [95]
    "Contracts for March 9, 2021". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  96. [96]
    "Falcon 9 Block 5 - NROL-69". Next Spaceflight. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  97. [97]
    @StephenClark1 (13 March 2021). "In response to my questions to SMC: "Each of the FY21 awarded missions is planned to launch in FY23 from the Eastern Range."" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  98. [98]
    "Delta IV Heavy - NROL-70". Next Spaceflight. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  99. [99]
    Pietrobon, Steven (4 September 2019). "United States Military Manifest". Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  100. [100]
    "USA 290". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  101. [101]
    Gruss, Mike (19 May 2016). "NRO discloses previously unannounced launch contract for SpaceX". SpaceNews. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  102. [102]
    Clark, Stephen (6 April 2017). "Launch schedule". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  103. [103]
    "USA 276". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  104. [104]
    Klotz, Irene (30 April 2017). "Secret US Spy Satellite Heading to Low-Earth Orbit, SpaceX Launch License Shows". Space.com. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  105. [105]
    Clark, Stephen (24 May 2017). "Observers spot top secret satellite launched by SpaceX earlier this month". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  106. [106]
    USAF. "EELV PHASE 1A NROL-79 Request For Proposal".
  107. [107]
    "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-79 Payload for the National Reconnaissance Office". ULA.
  108. [108]
    "USA 274". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  109. [109]
    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.
  110. [110]
    Graham, William (26 April 2021). "ULA Delta IV Heavy launches NROL-82 national security mission". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  111. [111]
    "USA 314". N2YO.com. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  112. [112]
    Graham, William (17 April 2022). "Falcon 9 launches NROL-85 mission for National Reconnaissance Office". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  113. [113]
    "NROL launches". Gunter's Space Page. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  114. [114]
    Ray, Justin (30 June 2017). "Air Force selects Atlas 5 to launch multipurpose satellite to high orbit". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  115. [115]
    NRO [@NatReconOfc] (2 February 2022). "12:28:00 PST #NROL87 LIFTOFF" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 February 2022 – via Twitter.
  116. [116]
    Graham, William (24 September 2022). "Last West Coast Delta IV Heavy launches with NROL-91". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  117. [117]
    "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  118. [118]
    Molczan, Ted (18 December 2020). "USA 310: ISON post-manoeuvre elements". Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  119. [119]
    Atkinson, Ian (10 September 2023). "ULA conducts NROL-107 launch, last Atlas NRO mission". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  120. [120]
    Erwin, Sandra. "Air Force awards US$739 million in launch contracts to ULA and SpaceX". Space News. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  121. [121]
    Clark, Stephen (26 October 2020). "NRO reveals plans for previously-undisclosed SpaceX launch this month". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  122. [122]
    "NRO Twitter: Launch Update". NRO. 17 December 2020.
  123. [123]
    Krebs, Gunter (21 December 2020). "USA 312, 313 (NROL 108)". Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  124. [124]
    "Exclusive: Musk's SpaceX is building spy satellite network for US intelligence agency, sources say". Reuters. 16 March 2023.
  125. [125]
    "Northrop Grumman Successfully Launches Minotaur I Rocket for the National Reconnaissance Office". Northrop Grumman. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  126. [126]
    "Rocket Lab Successfully Launches Fifth National Security Mission for NRO". Rocket Lab (Press release). 21 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  127. [127]
    Clark, Stephen (21 March 2019). "Two Minotaur launches planned this year from Virginia". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  128. [128]
    "NROL-129". Gunters Space Page.
  129. [129]
    "USA 305". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  130. [130]
    "NROL-129 Launch Press Kit" (PDF). Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  131. [131]
    Erwin, Sandra (20 January 2020). "Rocket Lab to launch small satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office". Space News. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  132. [132]
    "Birds of a Feather". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  133. [133]
    "NROL-151 Mission Deep Dive" (PDF). National Reconnaissance Office. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  134. [134]
    https://space.skyrocket.de/index.doc - 1 February 2020.
  135. [135]
    "And we have resumed the count! New target lift-off time is 02:56 UTC (15:56 NZDT / 18:56 PST / 21:56 EST)". @RocketLab. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  136. [136]
    "USA 294". N2YO.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  137. [137]
    Kanayama, Lee (13 July 2022). "Rocket Lab launches first of two back-to-back missions for NRO". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  138. [138]
    "Rocket Lab Awarded Contract for Back-to-Back NRO Missions". Rocket Lab (Press release). 18 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2021 – via SpaceRef.
  139. [139]
    Clark, Stephen (15 June 2021). "NRO satellites launched by Minotaur rocket with surplus missile parts". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 16 June 2021. [T]he Space Force and the NRO have purchased at least one more Minotaur flight to deliver another classified payload to orbit. That mission, known as NROL-174, will use a Minotaur 4 rocket, the larger Minotaur variant. It is scheduled for launch in 2023, Eberly said. A launch site for the NROL-174 mission has not been confirmed.
  140. [140]
    "Minotaur IV - NROL-174". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  141. [141]
    Navin, Joseph (4 August 2022). "Rocket Lab's Electron launches NROL-199". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  142. [142]
    "NRO launches second mission of 2020 with Rocket Lab". National Reconnaissance Office. Retrieved 2 July 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  143. [143]
    "Don't Stop Me Now". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  144. [144]
    "NRO launches two IMPACT small satellites as rideshare on NG-12". National Reconnaissance Office. Retrieved 10 July 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • National Security Space Launch Report (pages 112)
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article NROL, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.