Atlas launches NRO satellite
Posted: Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 11:01 AM ET (1601 GMT)
An Atlas 5 rocket successfully launched a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Friday evening. The Atlas 5 541 lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 7:19 pm PST Friday (10:19 pm EST Friday, 0319 GMT Saturday) on a mission designated NROL-35. Coverage of the mission was blacked out shortly after liftoff, but United Launch Alliance and the NRO declared the mission a success a couple hours later. NRO did not disclose the spacecraft's mission, although observers speculate it may be a signals intelligence satellite. The launch was the most powerful variant of the Atlas to launch from Vandenberg, and the first to use a new version of the RL10 upper stage engine that will eventually be used by both the Atlas and Delta vehicles.
An Atlas 5 rocket successfully launched a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Friday evening. The Atlas 5 541 lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 7:19 pm PST Friday (10:19 pm EST Friday, 0319 GMT Saturday) on a mission designated NROL-35. Coverage of the mission was blacked out shortly after liftoff, but United Launch Alliance and the NRO declared the mission a success a couple hours later. NRO did not disclose the spacecraft's mission, although observers speculate it may be a signals intelligence satellite. The launch was the most powerful variant of the Atlas to launch from Vandenberg, and the first to use a new version of the RL10 upper stage engine that will eventually be used by both the Atlas and Delta vehicles.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
US and UK militaries conduct coordinated satellite maneuvers
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:30 AM ET (1230 GMT) Blue Origin retires a New Shepard capsule after payload flight
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:25 AM ET (1225 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, October 14
US Congress committee investigating Musk-owned Starlink over Myanmar scam centres
AFP — 7:50 am ET (1150 GMT) Morgan Stanley calls Rocket Lab a SpaceX alternative as it lifts price target
Investing.com — 7:48 am ET (1148 GMT) SpaceX’s Starship rocket lifts off in latest test flight as Musk eyes Mars
France 24 — 7:46 am ET (1146 GMT) SpaceX Replicates Starship Launch Success as US Races to Moon
Bloomberg News — 7:46 am ET (1146 GMT) SpaceX successfully tests 11th Starship flight in Texas
UPI — 7:46 am ET (1146 GMT) |
