NROL-52 – Spaceflight Now

Photos: News media shots of the NROL-52 liftoff

October 15, 2017 Justin Ray

Cape Canaveral was the point of origination for the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket and the classified NROL-52 payload.

Photos: Atlas 5 rocket powers NROL-52 payload to space

October 15, 2017 Justin Ray

The Atlas 5 rocket blasts off from Cape Canaveral for its pre-dawn ascent to deploy the NROL-52 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Atlas 5 pierces the night to boost national security satellite into space

October 15, 2017 Justin Ray

A covert communications relay station to route spy satellite data directly to users was successfully launched by a million-pound Atlas 5 rocket overnight.

Video: NROL-52 launch aboard Atlas 5

October 15, 2017 Justin Ray

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, standing 194 feet tall and and weighing a million pounds, unleashes 1.6 million pounds of thrust from its main engine and two side-mounted solid boosters to launch the secret NROL-52 payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office from Cape Canaveral.

Preview: Atlas 5 to execute another space-lift mission for U.S. spy satellite agency

October 12, 2017 Justin Ray

An early bird rocket launch from the Florida spaceport will take to the skies before dawn Saturday when an Atlas 5 lofts a classified U.S. government satellite.

Photos: Atlas 5 returns to pad for night owl launch

October 12, 2017 Justin Ray

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket with the NROL-52 spacecraft aboard moved to the launch pad this morning for liftoff Saturday to serve the national interest. Liftoff is scheduled for 3:31 a.m. EDT (0731 GMT).

Fact sheet: Atlas 5 rocket to launch the NROL-52 mission

October 12, 2017 Justin Ray

This is our comprehensive fact sheet previewing the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket deployment of the classified NROL-52 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Photos: Atlas 5 on the pad awaiting liftoff on NROL-52

October 12, 2017 Justin Ray

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket stands atop Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral in readiness for the NROL-52 deployment mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Video: Weather causes Atlas 5 countdown hold

October 6, 2017 Justin Ray

For the second day running, bad weather at Cape Canaveral forced the postponement of the NROL-52 satellite launch. Today, the weather officer stopped the countdown with 97 seconds left.

Photos: Atlas 5 rocket rolls out for NROL-52 flight

October 3, 2017 Justin Ray

Riding the rails between its assembly building and the launch pad, an Atlas 5 rocket topped with a clandestine national security satellite was rolled out this morning for Thursday’s liftoff at 4:07 a.m. EDT (0807 GMT).