LIVE: Atlas V 541 - NROL-67 - April 10, 2014

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Thread for Atlas V with NROL-67:

Feature:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/atlas-v-nrol-67-military-mission/

Atlas V articles - including the Range issues:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/atlas-v/


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Well the stacking of the Atlas V for this launch has already begun yesterday: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/nrol67/stacking.html

So any guesses about the payload? I'm betting on a next-generation ELINT satellite either bound for GSO or Molniya orbit...... 

[William Graham]

Well the stacking of the Atlas V for this launch has already begun yesterday: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/nrol67/stacking.html

So any guesses about the payload? I'm betting on a next-generation ELINT satellite either bound for GSO or Molniya orbit...... 

I'd say Molniya ELINT, as that would fit fairly well with SBIRS HEO-3 being shipped for integration last June. It would also explain why this launch appeared to switch from Canaveral to Vandenberg and then back again - as a Molniya orbit launch could be performed from either coast - although that could also be explained as an error in the document(s) that listed it as going from VAFB.

The document which vapour_nudge posted in the NRO thread a while back listed a second 541 for L-42 in FY2017 (with both launches from VAFB). This suggests that L-67 isn't another one-off or rarely-launched type like another Misty or Prowler. The same document claims that it is a LEO launch, however I'm inclined to ignore that as I doubt ULA could be so careless as to publish the planned orbits of several NRO payloads.

The current-generation HEO ELINTs were launched in 2006 and 2008 - turning eight and six this year respectively. We don't know their design lives but based on the gaps between the 1990s launches and the timescale originally planned for the 2000s launches (which were both several years late), I'd estimate 10 years, plus or minus two. That would make L-67 a little early, but as its increased mass suggests a significant change from previous satellites - or a new satellite altogether - maybe it needs a bit more time for on-orbit testing.

I'm not entirely sure how similar the current satellites are to the three previous-generation ones. Although the earlier ones launched on much larger rockets (Titan-Centaurs), this could well have been due to the lack of an intermediate rocket - the next-biggest rocket available at the time would have been the Atlas IIAS, which had a lower payload capacity than the Atlas V 411 used in the 2008 launch. Launches of GEO satellites from the same era seem to be continuing. NROL-37 in 2015 seems early for a KH-11 replacement, so I'd assume it is the next Orion - although this cannot be said for certain since the launch site remains to be confirmed.

So in short I'd say expect the first launch of a new-generation HEO ELINT satellite, however we'll know more when it gets closer to launch and we get details of the window and ground track. I've made three posts speculating on the identity of this satellite, and in all three I've come to a different conclusion.


An aside, I still haven't seen a patch for this one. I'm wondering if the NRO are being cautious after the negative publicity they received for the L-39 patch

[Jim]

An aside, I still haven't seen a patch for this one. I'm wondering if the NRO are being cautious after the negative publicity they received for the L-39 patch

They are

[Galactic Penguin SST]

There is a launch window listed on the KSC status report on L2. 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Apparently ULA is already selling T-shirts with the logos for this launch (and also the next DMSP launch too): http://www.ulalaunchstore.com/nrol-67-mens-pocket-t-shirt/

It isn't very clear, but apparently the logo includes a blue flying horse (Pegasus?) and the Latin words In scientia opportunitas - "The Science of Opportunity" (?) Weird......unless it refers to a science package flying with it.... (NASA GSFC's TWINS-C? That would point the payload as going HEO Molniya a la Trumpet/Mercury......)

[RonM]

Apparently ULA is already selling T-shirts with the logos for this launch (and also the next DMSP launch too): http://www.ulalaunchstore.com/nrol-67-mens-pocket-t-shirt/

It isn't very clear, but apparently the logo includes a blue flying horse (Pegasus?) and the Latin words In scientia opportunitas - "The Science of Opportunity" (?) Weird......unless it refers to a science package flying with it.... (NASA GSFC's TWINS-C? That would point the payload as going HEO Molniya a la Trumpet/Mercury......)

"The Science of Opportunity" refers to turning opportunity into a science, a good phrase for a real-time reconnaissance satellite.

[William Graham]

This has turned up on ebay; it doesn't quite look right but the seller has been the first to post several earlier patches so I'm going to assume it is accurate until proven otherwise.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTHENTIC-NEW-NRO-L-67-ATLAS-V-CCAFS-ULA-USAF-CLASSIFIED-SATELLITE-LAUNCH-PATCH-/281273349149
(http://www.webcitation.org/6Ne0x5hG1)

Obviously it is a poor quality scan, but the listing describes it as an embroidered patch which the image clearly isn't - the level of detail is too high - although I know that other memorabilia such as stickers are available so it's not impossible. There is also a spelling mistake on the patch.


Assuming this is the launch patch (from the Atlas logo, serial number and the lack of similarity with the glimpse we got of the payload patch from the ULA poster) the lack of text is unusual but not unheard of (L-15 had a similar amount, as did many older patches).

The motto is "forest [sic] fortuna adiuvat". I can only assume that it should read "fortes fortuna adiuvat" which translates as "fortune favours the bold".

The dragon is the most striking element of the patch. One of the most common symbols on NRO patches, dragons have in the past often symbolised ELINT satellites and such patches have been recorded for both Trumpet and Orion launches. The angle at which the dragon's neck is craned could suggest that the satellite will be looking down from a high inclination - suggesting a Trumpet satellite - however this is tenuous.

It is worth noting the moon and clouds in the background. They could be indicating that the satellite is able to operate at night (i.e. suggesting that it is a radar imaging spacecraft), however this seems unlikely because I would not expect an AV541 from Canaveral to be used for such a launch.

The five stars around the edge of the patch are stylistically the same as those usually arranged in a V to represent the 5th Space Launch Squadron. In their arrangement here they could also represent five satellites in orbit, with the Dragon being a sixth; i.e. NROL-67 is the sixth Trumpet satellite.

[edkyle99]

Story today about a Russian Navy "spy ship" arriving unannounced (to the U.S.) in Havana, Cuba.  Would there be any reason for this ship to possibly be tasked with watching the NROL-67 launch?

http://news.yahoo.com/russian-spy-ship-docked-havana-224015753.html;_ylt=A0LEVyrz2Q9TLHAA.tNXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0OWIxbnI0BHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDM1N18x

EDIT:  Of course this thing might have been sent to do SIGINT/COMINT on some of the funky new stuff the U.S. Navy is starting to float.

 - Ed Kyle

[satwatcher]

The Spaceflight Now launch schedule reports a launch time of 1805-1935 GMT.

[Targeteer]

http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av045/infosheet.html

Pegasus is a prominent component of both the patch and poster.  Significance?

[wkann]

The NROL-67 payload has been mated to the Atlas V: http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av045/status.html

[Galactic Penguin SST]

ULA is now reporting a launch time of 2:48 pm EDT (18:48 UTC).

[Targeteer]

From Facebook

United Launch Alliance

The NROL-67 mission will be launched for the National Reconnaissance Office in support of national defense. Launch is planned for Tuesday, March 25, at 2:48 p.m. EDT. The live webcast begins at 2:28 p.m. from www.ulalaunch.com.

[jacqmans]

The ULA Launch Readiness Review complete - we are "GO!" for #NROL67 launch on #AtlasV. Mar 25 launch is planned for 2:48 pm EDT

[Targeteer]

Launch hazard area posted--it's headed east so off to GEO?

http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-140321-018.pdf

[input~2]

NAVAREA IV    195/2014(11,25,26).  (210919Z MAR 2014)
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
ROCKETS.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 251848Z TO 252014Z MAR,
   ALTERNATE 261844Z TO 262010Z MAR
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-37N 080-36W, 28-38N 080-33W,
      28-36N 079-20W, 28-29N 079-20W,
      28-32N 080-33W, 28-33N 080-36W.
   B. 28-28N 077-42W, 28-27N 077-13W,
      28-23N 077-13W, 28-24N 077-42W.
   C. 27-37N 069-22W, 27-24N 067-31W,
      27-15N 067-31W, 27-31N 069-22W.
   D. 23-09N 048-54W, 22-38N 047-02W,
      22-32N 047-02W, 23-05N 048-54W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 262110Z MAR 14.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

With this launch now pinpointing GEO (or maybe just GTO, but less likely) maybe it's the follow-on to the long-lived "Mercury" series, which hasn't seen a launch in 17 years (I wonder if the last ones are still active right now? It might be possible to see if they are drifting around the GEO band....). Should be interesting to track this bird once it launches! 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Hmm....short fairing used..... 

[Skyrocket]

Hmm....short fairing used..... 

If the satellite is of similar construction as the Trumpet Follow-On satellites (launched on Atlas-V(411)), the short fairing should be sufficient.

[Star One]

With this launch now pinpointing GEO (or maybe just GTO, but less likely) maybe it's the follow-on to the long-lived "Mercury" series, which hasn't seen a launch in 17 years (I wonder if the last ones are still active right now? It might be possible to see if they are drifting around the GEO band....). Should be interesting to track this bird once it launches! 

Aren't the Mentor/Orion satellites the replacement for that system?