NRO – Page 2 – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launches first batch of satellites for the NRO’s reconnaissance satellite constellation

May 21, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

Little has been said officially about the satellites, which have been described as part of the agency’s “proliferated architecture.” Liftoff happened at the opening of the launch window at 1 a.m. PDT (4 a.m. EDT, 0800 UTC).

ULA concludes six decades of Delta rocket flights with final Delta 4 Heavy mission

April 9, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The issue with a gaseous nitrogen pipeline that caused the late March launch scrub was able to be resolved, according to NASA and its contractor, Air Liquide. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 37 occurred at 12:53 p.m. EDT (1653 UTC).

High winds, gaseous nitrogen pump failure force scrub of the final launch of Delta 4 Heavy minutes before liftoff

March 28, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The 16th and last launch of the Delta 4 Heavy configuration also marks the end of Delta line of launch vehicles. NROL-70 with be the 389th Delta launch since 1960 and 45th Delta 4 rocket.

Atlas 5 rocket returns to pad for spy satellite agency launch from Cape Canaveral

September 8, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 rocket made its way back to the pad at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday morning for a mission carrying national security mission payloads, collectively codenamed Silentbarker. Liftoff has been rescheduled for at 8:47 a.m. EDT (1247 UTC).

Photos: Atlas 5 rocket soars from West Coast

October 8, 2015 Justin Ray

A collection of pad photos from the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket flight carrying the NROL-55 cargo for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Photos: California’s predawn liftoff of Atlas 5 rocket

October 8, 2015 Justin Ray

Making its second launch in just six days, a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket flight blasted off Thursday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Second Atlas 5 rocket launched in span of six days

October 8, 2015 Justin Ray

Churning out the launches at a rapid pace, the Atlas 5 program sent another rocket soaring like clockwork Thursday for deployment of a national security satellite duo from California.

Video: Liftoff of Atlas 5 on NROL-55

October 8, 2015 Justin Ray

A replay of the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launching the classified NROL-55 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

Photos: Gantry retracted from Atlas 5 rocket

October 8, 2015 Justin Ray

The 8-million-pound mobile service tower is retracted from around the Atlas 5 rocket, revealing the 19-story-tall vehicle for liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on NROL-55.

Live coverage: Atlas 5 countdown and launch journal

October 7, 2015 Justin Ray

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 5:49 a.m. local time (8:49 a.m. EDT; 1249 GMT) Thursday on the classified National Reconnaissance Office NROL-55 mission.