LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Update thread for Atlas V with NROL-38:

Non morieris bello: “You are not going to war”. So not something related to direct surveillance? (SDS?)

Edit by input~2: the second patch below was issued for NROL-4 /USA-136
 

[Targeteer]

Speculation on why three headed creatures on both patches and the colored stars, 8 white and 3 blue?  11 total launched with 3 active?

Nunquam Ante Numquam Iterum, "Never Before, Never Again"--not a clue.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Picked up these badges for this launch from another website.

Non morieris bello: “You are not going to war”. So not something related to direct surveillance? (SDS?) 

Well, it's launching from CCAFS so that suggests that L38 is going to GEO.  Maybe either a communications relay or a COMINT platform?

[Skyrocket]

It is likely a SDS-3 data relay satellite. Both GEO or Molniya orbits are possible.

http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sds-3.htm

[kevin-rf]

It is likely a SDS-3 data relay satellite. Both GEO or Molniya orbits are possible.

http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sds-3.htm

If going to a Molniya orbit, where will the end of mission blowdown most likely occur? Visible for us on the east coast?

[Rocket Guy]

Well, it's launching from CCAFS so that suggests that L38 is going to GEO.  Maybe either a communications relay or a COMINT platform?

They have launched plenty of Molniya and other high-incl orbits from the Cape, including SDS and Lacrosse.

[William Graham]

Probably SDS, but I wouldn't entirely rule Improved Trumpet out. Past launches have used the 411, but for all we know it could be just above the capacity of a 401 (it can't be more than halfway between the maximum 401 and 411 payloads, because DIVM+(4,2) can also launch it). Without the additional instruments carried by the last two it might fit on a 401. I'm not sure how much mass SBIRS-HEO adds, but TWINS is less than 20kg.


The second patch isn't from this launch. It was the mission patch for NROL-4/USA-136, launched by Titan IV(401)A A-17 in November 1997. That was the third and final launch of a first-generation Trumpet.


That said, the similarities between the two are striking. If this is a second-generation Trumpet, it would also be the third of its kind, so that patch would be appropriate. But patches can be misleading.

[input~2]

Non morieris bello: “You are not going to war”.

The correct translation is "you will not die by war"
(Google translate can be misleading )                      

[Jim]

The booster arrived by Delta Mariner this week

[Rahkashi]

Nunquam Ante Numquam Iterum, "Never Before, Never Again"--not a clue.

It could be a one time satellite, not one in a series.

[jcm]

Nunquam Ante Numquam Iterum, "Never Before, Never Again"--not a clue.

It could be a one time satellite, not one in a series.

Or the only time this type of sat is launched from the East coast, or on an Atlas... 

[input~2]

As William said above, the second patch with the "Nunquam Ante Numquam Iterum" inscription does not apply to NROL-38 but was issued for a past launch: NROL-4/USA-136 launched on Nov 8, 1997 by Titan-4A from CCAFS.
(alternative source: http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1197/1)

[douglas100]

They have launched plenty of Molniya and other high-incl orbits from the Cape, including SDS and Lacrosse.

Lacrosse in a Molniya orbit??

[Galactic Penguin SST]

They have launched plenty of Molniya and other high-incl orbits from the Cape, including SDS and Lacrosse.

Lacrosse in a Molniya orbit??

Nope, however Lacrosse operates from a low Earth orbit with inclination at 57 degrees.

[Blackstar]

It is likely a SDS-3 data relay satellite. Both GEO or Molniya orbits are possible.

http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sds-3.htm

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1197/1

Anybody see the pattern?