Delta 4 launches classified satellite
Posted: Sun, Jan 18, 2009, 11:01 AM ET (1601 GMT)
After several days of delays, a Delta 4 Heavy successfully launched a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on Saturday night. The Delta 4 Heavy lifted off from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral, Florida at 9:47 pm EST Saturday (0247 GMT Sunday). Because of the classified nature of the launch, a blackout on launch activities was put into place several minutes after liftoff, and a United Launch Alliance press release Saturday night stated only that the vehicle successfully lifted off from the Cape. The only information about the payload released by the NRO was its launch designation, NROL-26, but analysts believe the spacecraft is a new electronic eavesdropping satellite, to be located in GEO and using large deployable antennas to detect radio transmissions. The launch was the third for the Delta 4 Heavy, the largest EELV version in operation, and the first since the launch of an early warning satellite for the Air Force in November 2007.
After several days of delays, a Delta 4 Heavy successfully launched a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on Saturday night. The Delta 4 Heavy lifted off from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral, Florida at 9:47 pm EST Saturday (0247 GMT Sunday). Because of the classified nature of the launch, a blackout on launch activities was put into place several minutes after liftoff, and a United Launch Alliance press release Saturday night stated only that the vehicle successfully lifted off from the Cape. The only information about the payload released by the NRO was its launch designation, NROL-26, but analysts believe the spacecraft is a new electronic eavesdropping satellite, to be located in GEO and using large deployable antennas to detect radio transmissions. The launch was the third for the Delta 4 Heavy, the largest EELV version in operation, and the first since the launch of an early warning satellite for the Air Force in November 2007.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, March 10
SKY Perfect JSAT Selects Thales Alenia Space to build “JSAT-32” Communications Satellite
Thales Alenia Space — 5:44 am ET (0944 GMT) Missed shots at the moon are still scores for commercial space companies
The Hill — 5:43 am ET (0943 GMT) This couple's flight was rerouted midair after the SpaceX Starship exploded. They saw flaming debris out their window.
Business Insider — 5:41 am ET (0941 GMT) China launches communication technology test satellite
Xinhua — 5:32 am ET (0932 GMT) China expands secretive satellite series with launch of TJS-15
Space News — 5:28 am ET (0928 GMT) |
