NRO – Page 3 – Spaceflight Now

Photos: NROL-55 payload joins Atlas booster rocket for launch

October 4, 2015 Justin Ray

This photo gallery shows the classified National Reconnaissance Office payload, already encapsulated in the 14-foot-diameter nose cone, being lifted atop the United Launch Alliance Atlas-Centaur rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base for liftoff Oct. 8.

Three Atlas 5, Delta 4 assigned to military launches

February 2, 2015 Justin Ray

Three rockets under the existing Block Buy between the Pentagon and United Launch Alliance have been assigned configurations and payloads.

Record-setting Atlas launches with new Centaur engine

December 13, 2014 Justin Ray

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket put on a display of power, sound and light Friday evening at Vandenberg Air Force Base in launching a clandestine national security payload, then successfully debuted a new upper stage engine as it flew over the horizon.

Live coverage: Atlas 5 blasts off from California

December 10, 2014 Justin Ray

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted off Friday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California with a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. Launch occurred at 7:19 p.m. PST (10:19 p.m. EST; 0319 GMT).

Photos: Payload stacked for Thursday’s Atlas 5

December 9, 2014 Justin Ray

See images of a classified spy payload lifted on top of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Atlas/NROL-35 mission stats

November 17, 2014 Justin Ray

The NROL-35 Atlas 5 launch by the numbers.