Atlas 2 launches NRO payload
Posted: Tue, Dec 2, 2003, 11:21 AM ET (1621 GMT)
An Atlas 2AS rocket, performing its final launch from California, placed a secret National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payload into orbit early Tuesday. The Atlas 2AS lifted off from SLC-3E at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, at 5:02 am EST (1002 GMT). The booster released its payload into a transfer orbit 74 minutes later. No information about the nature of the payload was disclosed, although satellite experts believe the payload was two or three Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS) spacecraft. The satellites are used to track and identify ocean vessels. The launch was the last Atlas 2 mission to be launched from the West Coast: the SLC-3E launch site will now be converted to support Atlas 5 launches starting in 2005.
An Atlas 2AS rocket, performing its final launch from California, placed a secret National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payload into orbit early Tuesday. The Atlas 2AS lifted off from SLC-3E at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, at 5:02 am EST (1002 GMT). The booster released its payload into a transfer orbit 74 minutes later. No information about the nature of the payload was disclosed, although satellite experts believe the payload was two or three Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS) spacecraft. The satellites are used to track and identify ocean vessels. The launch was the last Atlas 2 mission to be launched from the West Coast: the SLC-3E launch site will now be converted to support Atlas 5 launches starting in 2005.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Apex becomes billion-dollar company with $200 million Series D round
Posted: Sun, Sep 14 4:09 AM ET (0809 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, September 15
Elon Musk's Starlink reports service outage, thousands of users affected
Reuters — 1:23 am ET (0523 GMT) What does the loss of U.S. Space Command mean to Colorado Springs?
Denver Post — 1:21 am ET (0521 GMT) SpaceX Launches Northrop Grumman Cargo Ship To ISS
Aviation Week — 1:18 am ET (0518 GMT) SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on Sunday
WESH-TV Orlando — 1:18 am ET (0518 GMT) Apollo 13 made Jim Lovell a legend generations after the space race
The Hill — 1:09 am ET (0509 GMT) |
