Atlas launches NRO satellite
Posted: Tue, Dec 11, 2007, 8:50 AM ET (1350 GMT)
An Atlas 5 launched a classified spacecraft for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on Monday evening. The Atlas 5 401 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 5:05 pm EST (2205 GMT) carrying a spacecraft officially designated NROL-24, also named Scorpius. Few details about the mission were released, although United Launch Alliance (ULA), the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture that operates the Atlas 5, announced in a press release a couple hours after the launch that the launch has been a success. Analysts speculate that the payload may be a communications satellite that will operate in an elliptical, inclined Molniya orbit, relaying data from reconnaissance satellites to ground stations. The launch is the fourth for the Atlas 5 this year.
An Atlas 5 launched a classified spacecraft for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on Monday evening. The Atlas 5 401 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 5:05 pm EST (2205 GMT) carrying a spacecraft officially designated NROL-24, also named Scorpius. Few details about the mission were released, although United Launch Alliance (ULA), the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture that operates the Atlas 5, announced in a press release a couple hours after the launch that the launch has been a success. Analysts speculate that the payload may be a communications satellite that will operate in an elliptical, inclined Molniya orbit, relaying data from reconnaissance satellites to ground stations. The launch is the fourth for the Atlas 5 this year.
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
|
|
Monday, October 6
Firefly Aerospace Announces Strategic Acquisition of SciTec to Advance National Security Capabilities
Firefly Aerospace — 4:22 am ET (0822 GMT) Firefly To Acquire Data Analytics Provider SciTec In Expansion Of National Security Focus
Defense Daily — 4:21 am ET (0821 GMT) Oman — a regional hub in global space industry
The Times of Oman — 4:15 am ET (0815 GMT) Ghana Hosts Maiden Space Conference as Africa’s Space Economy Targets US$22.6 Billion
News Ghana — 4:15 am ET (0815 GMT) ESA inaugurates deep space antenna in Australia
Space and Defense — 4:14 am ET (0814 GMT) |
