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List of NRO launches

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The National Reconnaissance Office logo

This is a list of NRO Launch (NROL) designations for satellites operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office. Those missions are generally classified, so that their exact purposes and orbital elements are not published.

However, amateur astronomers have managed to observe most of the satellites, and leaked information has led to the identification of many of the payloads.

Launch statistics

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Launch vehicle families

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Launch sites

[edit]

Launch history

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Launch
designation 		Payload
nickname 		Satellite
designation 		Date/time, UTC Launch site Rocket Orbit Project Function Status Patch Remarks
L-1 Nemesis[1] USA-179 31 August 2004
23:17[2] 		CCAFS, SLC-36A[2] Atlas IIAS 39,053 × 1,316 km × 63.7° (Molniya)[3] Quasar 15[4] Communications Entered service, status unknown
L-2 USA-129 20 December 1996
18:04 		VAFB, SLC-4E Titan IV LEO KH-11 12[5] Optical imaging Deorbited Reentered on 1 May 2014.[6][7]
L-3 USA-133 24 October 1997
02:32 		VAFB, SLC-4E Titan IV 679 × 666 km × 57° (LEO)[8] Lacrosse 3 Synthetic-aperture radar Deorbited
L-4 Oscar USA-136 8 November 1997
02:05 		CCAFS, SLC-41 Titan IV/Centaur 36,523 × 3,849 km × 63.6° (Molniya)[9] Trumpet 3[10] ELINT Entered service, status unknown
L-5 Capricorn[1] USA-137 29 January 1998
18:37 		CCAFS, SLC-36A Atlas IIA Molniya Quasar 12[4] Communications Entered service, status unknown
L-6 Jack USA-139[11] 9 May 1998
01:38 		CCAFS, SLC-40 Titan IV/Centaur 35,945 × 35,642 km × 8.4° (GSO)[12] Orion 4[13] SIGINT Entered service, presumed active
L-7 Elwood N/A 12 August 1998
11:30 		CCAFS, SLC-41 Titan IV/Centaur GSO (planned) Mercury ELINT Destroyed "Cheers! Saving the Best for Last!!" Rocket self-destructed 40 seconds into launch due to guidance problem.[14]
L-8 USA-140, USA-141 3 October 1998
10:04 		VAFB, LC-576E Taurus 1110 LEO STEX Technology Entered service, status unknown ATEX experiment jettisoned on 16 January 1999 and catalogued as USA-141.
L-9 USA-144[1] 22 May 1999
09:36[15] 		VAFB, SLC-4E[15] Titan IVB Misty Optical imaging Entered service, status unknown First Titan IV-B launch from VAFB.
L-10 Ursa Major[1]
(Great Bear) 		USA-155 6 December 2000
02:47[2] 		CCAFS, SLC-36A Atlas IIAS 35,854 × 35,732 km × 9.3° (GSO)[16] Quasar 13[4] Communications Entered service, presumed active
L-11 Onyx / Vega USA-152 17 August 2000
23:45 		VAFB, SLC-4E Titan IVB 695 × 689 km × 68° (LEO)[8] Lacrosse 4 SAR Deorbited

L-12 Aquila[1] USA-162 11 October 2001
02:32[2] 		CCAFS, SLC-36B Atlas IIAS 35,803 × 35,785 km × 10.9° (GSO)[17] Quasar 14[4] Communications Entered service, presumed active
L-13 Gemini[1] USA-160 8 September 2001
15:25 		VAFB, SLC-3E[2] Atlas IIAS 1,486 × 740 km × 63.4° (LEO)[18] Intruder 5A & 5B[19] Naval reconnaissance Entered service, status unknown Two satellites.
L-14 USA-161 5 October 2001
21:21 		VAFB, SLC-4E Titan IVB LEO KH-11 13[5] Optical reconnaissance Deorbited Reentered in November 2014.[20][21]
L-15 USA-237 29 June 2012
13:15[22] 		CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy
(first RS-68A upgrade) 		35,960 × 35,628 km × 2.8° (GSO)[23] Orion 8[24] SIGINT Entered service, presumed active
L-16 Prometheus USA-182[11] 30 April 2005
00:50[25] 		CCAFS, SLC-40 Titan IVB 728 × 725 km × 57.0° (LEO)[26] Lacrosse 5[8] SAR Deorbited
L-17 GeoLITE[1] USA-158 18 May 2001
17:45[27] 		CCAFS, SLC-17B Delta II 7925-9.5 GSO GeoLITE Technology demonstration Retired Boosted to graveyard orbit after end of mission.[28] Testbed for experimental laser and UHF communications payloads.[29]
L-18 Libra[1] USA-173 2 December 2003
10:04[2] 		VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas IIAS 1,435 × 786 km × 63.4° (LEO)[30] Intruder 6A & B[19] Naval reconnaissance Entered service, status unknown Two satellites.
L-19 Homer[31] USA-171[11] 9 September 2003
04:29[32] 		CCAFS, SLC-40 Titan IVB-Centaur 35,995 × 35,592 km × 11.4° (GSO)[33] Orion 5[24] SIGINT Entered service, presumed active
L-20 USA-186[11] 19 October 2005
18:05[34] 		VAFB, SLC-4E Titan IVB 473 × 268 km × 96.9° (LEO)[35] KH-11 14[5] Optical imaging Entered service, presumed active Last launch of a Titan rocket.
L-21 USA-193[1] 14 December 2006
21:00[27] 		VAFB, SLC-2W Delta II 7920-10 LEO Unknown Unknown Destroyed Failed on orbit immediately after launch. Destroyed by ASAT on 21 February 2008.
L-22 USA-184[1] 28 June 2006
03:33 		VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV M+(4,2) 38,628 × 1,740 km × 63° (Molniya)[36] Improved Trumpet 4[37] ELINT Entered service, status unknown
L-23 Canis Minor[1] USA-181 3 February 2005
07:41 		CCAFS, SLC-36B Atlas IIIB 1,404 × 822 km × 63.4° (LEO)[38] Intruder 7A & 7B[19] Naval reconnaissance Entered service, status unknown Two satellites.
L-24 Scorpius[1] USA-198 10 December 2007
22:05 		CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 401 39,899 × 461 km × 63.4° (Molniya)[39] Quasar 16[4] Communications Entered service, presumed active
L-25 Altair USA-234 3 April 2012
23:12[40][41] 		VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV M+ (5,2) 1,112 × 1,109 km × 123° (Retrograde LEO)[42] Topaz 2[43] Radar imaging Entered service, presumed active
L-26 USA-202 18 January 2009
02:47 		CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy 35,814 × 35,774 km × 6.1° (GSO)[44] Orion 6[24] SIGINT Entered service, presumed active
L-27 Gryphon[31] USA-227 11 March 2011
23:38 		CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV M+(4,2) 35,810 × 35,778 km × 4.6° (GSO)[45] Quasar 17[4] Communications Entered service, presumed active
L-28 USA-200 13 March 2008
10:02 		VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 411 38,009 × 2,362 km × 63.2° (Molniya)[46] Improved Trumpet 5[37] ELINT Entered service, status unknown
L-29 N/A VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 521[47] Canceled
L-30 Pyxis[1] USA-194 15 June 2007
15:12 		CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 401 1,347 × 879 km × 63.4° (LEO)[48] Intruder 8A & 8B[19] Naval reconnaissance Entered service, presumed active Two satellites.
Premature 2nd stage cutoff during launch. Lifetime reduced by need to correct orbit.
L-32[49] USA-223 21 November 2010
22:58[50] 		CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy 35,979 × 35,609 km × 4.6° (GSO)[51] Orion 7[24] SIGINT Entered service, presumed active
L-33[52] USA-252 22 May 2014
13:09 		CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 401 35,810 × 35,778 km × 2.7° (GSO)[53] Quasar 19[4] Communications Entered service, presumed active
L-34 Odin[54] USA-229 15 April 2011
04:24 		VAFB, SLC-3E[50] Atlas V 411 1,261 × 965 km × 63.4° (LEO)[55] Intruder 9A & 9B[19] Naval reconnaissance Entered service, presumed active Two satellites.
L-35 Jacquelyn USA-259 13 December 2014
03:19 		VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 541 39,083 × 1,286 km × 63.4° (Molniya)[56] Trumpet 6 (third generation)[57] ELINT Entered service, presumed active First flight of the RL10C-1 rocket engine, used by the Centaur upper stage
L-36[58] USA-238[59] 13 September 2012
21:39[41] 		VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 401 1,225 × 1,001 km × 63.4° (LEO)[60] Intruder 10A & 10B[19] Naval reconnaissance Entered service, presumed active Two satellites sharing a designation.
L-37[61] USA-268 11 June 2016
17:51 		CCAFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy 35,993 × 35,594 km × 6.5° (GSO)[62] Orion 9[24] SIGINT[63] Entered service, presumed active Likely the seventh so called Mentor/Orion satellite for the National Security Agency.[64]
L-38[65] Drake USA-236 20 June 2012
12:28[41] 		CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 401 35,815 × 35,773 km × 3.1° (GSO)[66] Quasar 18[4] Communications Entered service, presumed active
L-39[67] USA-247 6 December 2013
07:14[68] 		VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 501 1,113 × 1,109 km × 123° (Retrograde LEO)[69] Topaz 3[43] Radar imaging Entered service, presumed active
L-41[49] Gladys[31] USA-215[1] 21 September 2010
04:03[50] 		VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 501 1,112 × 1,109 km × 123° (Retrograde LEO)[70] Topaz 1[43] Radar imaging Entered service, presumed active
L-42[71] USA-278 24 September 2017
05:49:47 		VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 541 39,230 × 1,138 km × 63.6° (Molniya)[72] Trumpet 7 (third generation)[57] ELINT Entered service, presumed active
L-44[71] USA-311 11 December 2020
01:09 		CCSFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy 35,992 × 35,596 km × 7.6° (GSO)[73] Orion 10[64] SIGINT[63] Entered service, presumed active[74]
L-45[67] USA-267 10 February 2016
11:40 		VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV M+(5,2) 1,115 × 1,106 km × 123° (Retrograde LEO)[75] Topaz 4[43] Radar imaging Entered service, presumed active
L-47 USA-281 12 January 2018
22:11 		VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV M+(5,2) 1,088 × 1,085 km × 106° (Retrograde LEO)[76] Topaz 5[43] Radar imaging Entered service, presumed active
L-49[49] Betty[31] USA-224 20 January 2011
21:10[77] 		VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy 1,003 × 262 km × 97.9° (LEO)[78] KH-11 15[5] Optical imaging Entered service, presumed active
L-52[71] USA-279 15 October 2017
07:28 		CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 421 35,810 × 35,778 km × 3.2° (GSO)[79] Quasar 21[80] Communications Entered service, presumed active
L-55[71] USA-264 8 October 2015
12:49 		VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 401 1,150 × 1,076 km × 63.4° (LEO)[81][82] Intruder 11A & 11B Naval reconnisance[64] Entered service, presumed active Mission "patch" of NROL-55: a weapon smith (Hephaestus) is forging a sword. "SUSTENTANTES BELLATORES DE CÆLIS" means something like "In sustained support for the warriors, from the sky/or heaven" Two classified satellites (NROL-55) and 13 CubeSats.
L-56[83] - NLT 2026 CCAFS, SLC-41 Vulcan Centaur Awaiting launch
L-61[71] Spike[84] USA-269 28 July 2016
12:37[85] 		CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 421 35,808 × 35,779 km × 2.8° (GSO)[86][87] Quasar 20[80] Communications Entered service, presumed active
L-64 - 2025[88] CCSFS, SLC-41 Vulcan Centaur Awaiting launch
L-65[89] USA-245 28 August 2013
18:03 		VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy 991 × 275 km × 97.9° (LEO)[90] KH-11 16[5] Optical imaging Entered service, presumed active
L-66[91] USA-225 6 February 2011
12:26 		VAFB, SLC-8 Minotaur I 1,232 × 1,214 km × 90.1° (LEO)[92] RPP Technology Entered service, status unknown
L-67[93] USA-250 10 April 2014
17:45 		CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 541 35,811 × 35,777 km × 1.4° (GSO)[94] SIGINT High Altitude Replenishment Program (SHARP-1) SIGINT Entered service, presumed active
L-68[63] USA-345 22 June 2023
09:18[95] 		CCSFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy Orion 11 SIGINT Entered service, presumed active
L-69[96] - Q1 2024[97] KSC, LC-39A or CCSFS, SLC-40[98] Falcon 9 Block 5 Awaiting launch
L-70[63] - 9 April 2024[99] CCSFS, SLC-37B Delta IV Heavy Orion 12 SIGINT Entered service, status unknown Last launch of Delta family
L-71[71] USA-290 19 January 2019
19:05[41][100] 		VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy 423 × 406 km × 73.6° (LEO)[101] KH-11 17[5] Optical imaging Entered service, presumed active
L-73[83] - NLT 2026 VSFB, SLC-3E Vulcan Centaur Awaiting launch
L-76[102] USA-276 1 May 2017
11:15[103] 		KSC, LC-39A Falcon 9 Full Thrust 393 × 393 km × 50.0° (LEO)[104][105][106] Entered service, presumed active
L-77[83] - NLT 2026 CCSFS or KSC Falcon 9 Block 5 Awaiting launch
L-79[71][107] USA-274 1 March 2017
17:50[108] 		VAFB, SLC-3E Atlas V 401 1,119 × 1,107 km × 63.4° (LEO)[109] Intruder 12A & 12B[19] Naval reconnaissance Entered service, presumed active Two classified satellites sharing a designation.
L-82[63][110] USA-314 26 April 2021
20:47[111] 		VAFB, SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy 794 × 535 km × 98.1° (LEO)[112] KH-11 18[5] Electro-optical surveillance Entered service, presumed active
L-83 - 2025[113] VSFB, SLC-3E Vulcan Centaur Awaiting launch
L-85[114] USA-327 17 April 2022
13:13 		VSFB, SLC-4E Falcon 9 Block 5 LEO 63°[115] Intruder 13A & 13B Naval reconnaissance Entered service, presumed active
L-87[116] USA-326 2 February 2022
20:27[117] 		VSFB, SLC-4E Falcon 9 Block 5 SSO[115] Entered service, presumed active
L-91[110] USA-338 24 September 2022
22:25[118] 		VSFB, SLC-6 Delta IV Heavy LEO KH-11 19 Electro-optical surveillance Entered service, presumed active
L-100[83] - NLT 2026 VSFB, SLC-3E Vulcan Centaur Awaiting launch
L-101 USA-310 13 November 2020
22:32[119] 		CCAFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 531 11105 × 11081 km × 58.5° (MEO)[120] Entered service, presumed active
L-107[116] USA-346
USA-347
USA-348 		10 September 2023
12:47[121] 		CCSFS, SLC-41 Atlas V 551 GSO 42464 × 41864 km × 0° Silentbarker Situational awareness[122] Entered service, presumed active Three satellites
L-108[123] USA-312
USA-313 		19 December 2020
14:00[124] 		KSC, LC-39A Falcon 9 Block 5 540 × 528 km × 53°(LEO)[125] Entered service, presumed active Two satellites, possibly SpaceX Starshield prototypes.[126]
L-109[83] - NLT 2026 CCAFS, SLC-41 Vulcan Centaur Awaiting launch
L-111[127] USA-316
USA-317
USA-318 		15 June 2021
13:35 UTC 		MARS, LP-0B Minotaur I Technology Entered service, presumed active Three satellites.
L-113 USA-400 6 September 2024
03:20[128] 		VSFB, SLC-4E Falcon 9 Block 5 LEO Entered service, presumed active NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 21 Starshield satellites.[129]
L-118[83] - NLT 2026 CCAFS, SLC-41 Vulcan Centaur GSO Silentbarker Situational awareness Awaiting launch
L-123[130]
(RASR-5) 		USA-352
MOLA
Aerocube 16A
Aerocube 16B 		21 March 2024
07:25 UTC 		MARS, LP-0C Electron LEO Technology Entered service, presumed active RASR-5. Four satellites. First NRO launch on an Electron from Wallops, VA.
L-126 USA 438,
USA 339 		30 November 2024
8:10[131] 		VSFB, SLC-4E Falcon 9 Block 5 LEO Entered service, presumed active NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 2 Starshield satellites with 20 Starlink Group N-01 satellites..[132]
L-129[133][134] USA-305
USA-306
USA-307
USA-308 		15 July 2020
13:46 UTC 		MARS, LP-0B Minotaur IV / Orion 38 580 × 574 km × 54.0° (LEO)[135] Entered service, presumed active
Four payloads. First NRO launch on a Minotaur IV and first from Virginia's Space Coast.[136]
L-146 USA-354 - USA-374 22 May 2024
08:00[137] 		VSFB, SLC-4E Falcon 9 Block 5 425 × 310 km × 69.7° LEO Entered service, presumed active NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 21 Starshield satellites.[138]
L-151[139][140]
(RASR-1) 		Deep Dive[141] USA-294[142] 31 January 2020
02:56[143] 		Mahia, LC-1A Electron 594 × 586 km × 70.0° (LEO)[144] Technology Entered service, presumed active First Rocket Lab Electron launch, first launch from outside the United States (New Zealand), and first launch procured under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) program. Flew on Rocket Lab's "Birds of a Feather" mission.
L-162[145] (RASR-3) USA-334 13 July 2022
06:30 		Mahia, LC-1A Electron Entered service, presumed active RASR-3. Back-to-back launch under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) program.[146]
L-167 USA-421 24 October 2024
17:13[147] 		VSFB, SLC-4E Falcon 9 Block 5 LEO Entered service, presumed active NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 17 Starshield satellites.[148]
L-174[149] - was May 2024,[150] now thought to be December 2024[151] VSFB, SLC-8 Minotaur IV / Orion 38 Awaiting launch
L-186 USA-375 - USA-395 29 June 2024
03:14[152] 		VSFB, SLC-4E Falcon 9 Block 5 LEO Entered service, presumed active NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 21 Starshield satellites.[153]
L-199[154] (RASR-4) USA-335 4 August 2022
05:00 		Mahia, LC-1B Electron Entered service, presumed active RASR-4. Back-to-back launch under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) program.[146]
RASR-2[155][156] USA-301
USA-302
USA-303 		13 June 2020
05:12 		Mahia, LC-1A Electron Entered service, presumed active Three technology demonstration smallsats. Primary customer of the rideshare mission procured under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) program. Flew on Rocket Lab's "Don't Stop Me Now" mission.
Undesignated[157] IMPACT-2A and IMPACT-2B 2 November 2019
13:59:47 		MARS, Pad 0A Antares Technology demonstration Entered service, presumed active Two technology demonstration CubeSats launched as part of the NRO's IMPACT program. Secondary payloads, launched with Cygnus NG-12.
Launch
designation 		Launch name Satellite
designation 		Launch
date/time (UTC) 		Launch site Rocket Orbit Project Function Status Patch Remarks

See also

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References

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  84. ^ Ray, Justin (28 July 2016). "Spy satellite infrastructure supported by successful Atlas 5 rocket launch". Spaceflight Now.
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  107. ^ USAF. "EELV PHASE 1A NROL-79 Request For Proposal".
  108. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-79 Payload for the National Reconnaissance Office". ULA.
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  110. ^ a b Gruss, Mike (8 August 2016). "No complaint from SpaceX as Air Force skips competition for pair of NRO missions". SpaceNews. Retrieved 10 August 2016. In its announcement, the Defense Department said it plans to award a formal contract for the first mission, known as NROL-82, later this year for a 2020 launch. It also plans to award a contract for the second mission, known as NROL-91, in late 2017 with a tentative launch date of 2023.
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  113. ^ "Vulcan Centaur - NROL-83". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  114. ^ Graham, William (17 April 2022). "Falcon 9 launches NROL-85 mission for National Reconnaissance Office". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
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  126. ^ "Exclusive: Musk's SpaceX is building spy satellite network for US intelligence agency, sources say". Reuters. 16 March 2023.
  127. ^ "Northrop Grumman Successfully Launches Minotaur I Rocket for the National Reconnaissance Office". Northrop Grumman. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  128. ^ "Falcon 9 Block 5 - NROL-113". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  129. ^ Berger, Eric (18 April 2024). "SpaceX and Northrop are working on a constellation of spy satellites". Ars Technica. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
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  136. ^ "NROL-129 Launch Press Kit" (PDF). Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  137. ^ "Falcon 9 Block 5 - NROL-146". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
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  140. ^ "Birds of a Feather". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
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  149. ^ Clark, Stephen (15 June 2021). "NRO satellites launched by Minotaur rocket with surplus missile parts". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 16 June 2021. [T]he Space Force and the NRO have purchased at least one more Minotaur flight to deliver another classified payload to orbit. That mission, known as NROL-174, will use a Minotaur 4 rocket, the larger Minotaur variant. It is scheduled for launch in 2023, Eberly said. A launch site for the NROL-174 mission has not been confirmed.
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  154. ^ Navin, Joseph (4 August 2022). "Rocket Lab's Electron launches NROL-199". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  155. ^ "NRO launches second mission of 2020 with Rocket Lab". National Reconnaissance Office. Retrieved 2 July 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  156. ^ "Don't Stop Me Now". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  157. ^ "NRO launches two IMPACT small satellites as rideshare on NG-12". National Reconnaissance Office. Retrieved 10 July 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
[edit]
  • [1] National Security Space Launch Report (pages 112)
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