List of NRO Launches

This is a list of NRO Launch (NROL) designations, used to identify classified satellites operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office.

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 SDS-3[1] Communications[2] Active
L-2 USA-129 1996-12-20 VAFB SLC-4E Titan IV LEO Improved Crystal Optical imaging
L-3 USA-133 1997-10-24 VAFB SLC-4E Titan IV LEO Lacrosse ELINT Active
L-4 Oscar USA-136 1997-11-08 CCAFS LC-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 SDS-3[1] Communications Active
L-6 Jack USA-139[3] 1998-05-09 CCAFS SLC-40 Titan IV/Centaur GSO Mentor ELINT
L-7 Elwood N/A 1998-08-12 CCAFS SLC-41 Titan IV/Centaur GSO (planned) Mercury ELINT Failed: 1998-08-12 "On a Mission from DoD" Rocket self destructed 40s into launch due to guidance problem[4]
L-8 None 1998-10-03 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 IV-B[5] EIS-1 (8X Enhanced Imaging System)[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] SDS-3[1] Communications[2] Active
L-11 USA-152 2000-08-17, 23:45 VAFB SLC-4E Titan IVB LEO Lacrosse (Onyx) 4 Lacrosse (Onyx) Active
L-12 Aquila[1] USA-162[1] 2001-10-11, 02:32[2] CCAFS SLC-36B[2] Atlas IIAS[2] GSO[2] SDS-3[1] Communications Active
L-13 Gemini[1] USA-160[1] 2001-09-08, 15:25 VAFB SLC-3E[2] Atlas IIAS[2] LEO[2] NOSS-3[1] Naval reconnaissance[2] Active 2 satellites[2]
L-14 USA-161 2001-10-05 VAFB SLC-4E Titan IVB LEO Improved Crystal Optical reconnaissance Active
L-15 TBD 2012 June (target date)[6] CCAFS SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy Awaiting launch
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] NOSS-3[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 Advanced Orion ELINT Active
L-20 USA-186[3] 2005-10-19, 18:04.[11] VAFB SLC-4E Titan IVB LEO Improved Crystal 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] 2006-06-27, 03:30 VAFB SLC-6 Delta IVM+(4,2) Molniya Trumpet-2[1] ELINT Active
L-23 Canis Minor[1] USA-181[1] 2005-02-03, 07:41 CCAFS SLC-36B Atlas IIIB LEO NOSS-3[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 SDS-3[1] Communications Active
L-25 Altair NET 2011 VAFB SLC-6 Delta IVM+(4,2) LEO NOSS-3 Naval intelligence Awaiting launch
L-26 USA-202 2009-01-18, 02:47 CCAFS SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy GSO Advanced Orion ELINT Active
L-27 Gryphon[9] USA-227 2011-03-11, 23:38 CCAFS SLC-37B Delta IVM+(4,2) GSO SDS-3 Communications Active
L-28 USA-200 2008-03-13, 10:02 VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 411 Molniya Trumpet-2 ELINT Active
L-29 VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V Awaiting launch
L-30 Pyxis[1] USA-194[1] 2007-06-15, 15:11 CCAFS SLC-41 Atlas V 401[1] LEO NOSS-3[1] Naval reconnaissance Active 2 satellites
Premature 2nd stage cutoff during launch. Lifetime reduced by need to correct orbit
L-32[12] USA-223 2010-11-21, 22:58[13] CCAFS SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy GSO Advanced Orion[14] ELINT Launched
L-34 Odin[15] USA-229 2011-04-15 VAFB SLC-3E[13] Atlas V 411[13] LEO NOSS-3-5 Launched[16] Naval reconnaissance
L-35 TBD NET 2013 VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 531 Awaiting launch
L-36 TBD NET 2012 VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 411 Awaiting launch
L-37 TBD NET 2015 Delta-IV Heavy Awaiting launch
L-38 TBD NET 2011 Intermediate (EELV) Awaiting launch
L-39 TBD NET 2011 Intermediate (EELV) Awaiting launch
L-41[12] Gladys[9] USA-215[1] 2010-09-21 04:03:30[13] VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 501 LEO 1058 x 1072 km[17] FIA Radar 1 Launched, reported successful Retrograde orbit[18]
L-45 TBD NET 2012 Intermediate (EELV) Awaiting launch
L-49[12] Betty[9] USA-224 2011-01-20 21:10[19] VAFB SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy LEO 239 x 1005 km[20] Improved Crystal[19] Launched
L-55 TBD NET 2014 VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 401 Awaiting launch
L-66[21] USA-225 2011-02-06 12:26 UTC VAFB SLC-8 Minotaur I LEO Rapid Pathfinder Program Launched

References

  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. ^ a b c d NRO codenames. Forum.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  4. ^ National Reconnaissance Office Satellite Destroyed August 19, 1998
  5. ^ a b c National Reconnaissance Satellite Successfully Launched May 22, 1999
  6. ^ Spaceflight Now: Worldwide launch schedule. Spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved on October 3, 2011.
  7. ^ NRO Successfully Launches Last Titan from Cape Canaveral April 29, 2005
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Encyclopedia Astronautica – Delta 7000
  9. ^ a b c d "Re: NROL codenames". nasaspaceflight.com. 2011-01-22. http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=11127.msg683562#msg683562. 
  10. ^ NRO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES PAYLOAD FROM TITAN IV September 10, 2003
  11. ^ NRO Payload Takes Last Ride Aboard Titan IV October 20, 2005
  12. ^ a b c Spaceflight Now: Worldwide launch schedule. Spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  13. ^ a b c d Atlas Launch Report | Mission Status Center. Spaceflight Now. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  14. ^ Delta IV Heavy launches with NROL-32. NASASpaceFlight.com (2010-11-21). Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  15. ^ :::: United Launch Alliance, LLC ::::. Ulalaunch.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2011.
  16. ^ [1]
  17. ^ Molczan, Ted (2010-09-22). "NROL 41". http://www.satobs.org/seesat. http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Sep-2010/0241.html. Retrieved 2010-10-02. 
  18. ^ Barhorst, Leo (2010-10-01). "Reason for FIA Radar 1/USA 215 retrograde orbit?". http://www.satobs.org/seesat. http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Oct-2010/0009.html. Retrieved 2010-10-02. 
  19. ^ a b Graham, William (2011-01-20). "Delta IV Heavy launches on debut West Coast launch with NRO L-49". nasaspaceflight.com. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/01/live-delta-iv-heavy-launch-nro-l-49/. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
  20. ^ Molczan, Ted (2011-01-22). "RE: NROL-49 search elements". http://www.satobs.org/seesat. http://satobs.org/seesat/Jan-2011/0203.html. 
  21. ^ Graham, William (2011-02-06). "Orbital’s Minotaur I launches with NROL-66". nasaspaceflight.com. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/02/live-orbitals-minotaur-i-californian-launch-nrol-66/. 

External links

NRO Launches
L-1 · L-2 · L-3 · L-4 · L-5 · L-6 · L-7 · L-8 · L-9 · L-10 · L-11 · L-12 · L-13 · L-14 · L-15 · L-16 · L-17 · L-18 · L-19 · L-20 · L-21 · L-22 · L-23 · L-24 · L-25 · L-26 · L-27 · L-28 · L-29 · L-30 · L-31 · L-32 · L-33 · L-34 · ... · L-41 · L-49 · L-66
Spaceflight lists and timelines
General
Human spaceflight
General
Solar System exploration
Earth-orbiting satellites
Vehicles
Launches by rocket type
Agencies, companies
and facilities
Other mission lists
and timelines