NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
Commercial and US Government Launch Vehicles => NGIS (Formerly Orbital ATK) - Antares/Cygnus Section => Topic started by: Targeteer on 12/09/2016 01:13 am
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http://www.losangeles.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1025162/air-force-awards-nrol-111-mission-contract#.WEnn52fdG6w.facebook
LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The U.S. Air Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program, part of the Launch Enterprise Directorate at the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), awarded the National Reconnaissance Office Launch-111 contract to Orbital ATK. The contract is a firm-fixed-price contract valued at $29.2 million for a Minotaur I launch vehicle. This was the first such award under the Orbital/Suborbital Program 3 (OSP-3) Lane 1 capability. The OSP-3 contract Lane 1 capability is for 400-4,000 lbs. (181-1,810 kg) to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) and long-range, sub-orbital missions.
The specific launch date of NROL-111 will be determined by the schedule of the contractor but will be no later than 24 months from the date of contract award.
“Continued reliability of space vehicle delivery methods and affordable access to space for the National Reconnaissance Office is an essential forefront for space superiority. Utilizing the capability of the OSP-3 contract Lane 1 capability, immediately benefits our Department of Defense mission partners. The OSP-3 capability also holds great potential for SMC to provide assured access to space for future DoD missions,” said Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, Air Force program executive officer for Space and SMC commander.
The Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the U.S. Air Force's center of excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. Its portfolio includes space launch, global positioning, military space vehicle communications, defense meteorological space vehicles, range systems, space vehicle control networks, space-based infrared systems, and space situational awareness capabilities.
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First 66 then 111.....NRO really likes to allocate interesting numbers for their small experimental satellites. ::)
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I don't quite speak the same language as General Greaves.
Utilizing the capability of the OSP-3 contract Lane 1 capability, immediately benefits our Department of Defense mission partners.
I interpret this to effectively say that one outcome of the award will be that NRO gets it payload to orbit.
The OSP-3 capability also holds great potential for SMC to provide assured access to space for future DoD missions
I think he is saying the contract award keeps Minotaur flying. Or it keeps OA in the business. Or ... something else?
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I think "lane 1" means OA Minotaur 1 or Minotaur 4, or LM Athena 1c or Athena 2c. These are payloads less than 1.81 t. OSP-3 payloads above that are "lane 2" and might launch on OA Minotaur 6 or Antares, or SpaceX F9 or FH.
I think the only OS-3 payload launched so far was lane 2: DSCOVR, for NOAA. That was February 11, 2015 on F9. The other prior award, also lane 2, was for Space Test Program-2 on FH. That one does seem ... delayed. ;)
Nice article by by Phillip Swarts covering this on spacenews.com:
http://spacenews.com/orbital-atk-wins-29-2-million-contract-for-nro-launch/
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USAF noted a few days ago that this will be a launch from Wallops 0B.
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USAF noted a few days ago that this will be a launch from Wallops 0B.
actually announced longer than a few days ago, just took a while to make it to PAO
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I heard that this has been pushed to the end of the year?
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Source: SFN Launch Schedule https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ , June 29 update
Clarification of NROL-111 launch month: December 2018.
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Cross-post:
From SFN launch schedule, September 6 update (https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/):
<snip>
Minotaur 1/NROL-111 delayed from December 2018 to 2nd quarter 2019.
<snip>
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Launch delayed to "Late 2019"
Source: SFN Launch Schedule (https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/), updated Jan. 16
EDIT 3/22; possible source for the above, and elaborated now?:
Two Minotaur launches planned this year from Virginia (https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/03/21/two-minotaur-launches-planned-this-year-from-virginia/), dated March 21, 2019
Air Force and industry officials said the NROL-111 mission is now scheduled for late 2019. The delay was requested by the NRO, according to Col. Charles Galbreath, deputy director of the advanced systems and development directorate at the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center.
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From the July 2 update of the SFN Launch Schedule (https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/):
Launch is delayed from late 2019 to TBD.
Perhaps 2020?
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NRO tweet probably about this mission, stating "late 2019". https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1149417529217081344
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NRO tweet probably about this mission, stating "late 2019".
More likely NROL-129?
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Currently listed as late 2020.
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Currently listed as late 2020.
Belated cross-post:
https://spacenews.com/air-force-to-schedule-nine-small-launch-missions-in-2020/
A National Reconnaissance mission, NROL-129, is scheduled to fly sometime in the spring on a Northrop Grumman Minotaur 4 launch vehicle from Wallops Island, Virginia.
An Air Force Research Lab experimental payload will fly in the spring aboard a Rocket Lab Electron vehicle from the company’s new launch pad at Wallops Island. The STP-27RM Space Test Program mission is an experimental satellite called Monolith that will be used for space weather research.
...
Another NRO mission, NROL-111, will launch in late 2020 from Wallops Island aboard a Northrop Grumman Minotaur 1 vehicle.
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Cross-post, update of January 13:
https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/
4th Quarter • Minotaur 1 • NROL-111
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Pad 0B, Wallops Island, Virginia
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Cross-post re: the next NRO launch from Wallops, after NROL-129:
https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/news/Press%20Kit_Launch_NROL-129.pdf?ver=2020-07-07-134345-553
Upcoming Scheduled launches—
<snip>
• The next launch from NASA Wallops is scheduled for 2nd Qtr CY2021
<snip>
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Cross-post re: the next NRO launch from Wallops, after NROL-129:
https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/news/Press%20Kit_Launch_NROL-129.pdf?ver=2020-07-07-134345-553
Upcoming Scheduled launches—
<snip>
• The next launch from NASA Wallops is scheduled for 2nd Qtr CY2021
<snip>
Can't it be an Electron, like NROL-151 but from Wallops Island ?
When speaking of Electron, I'm not speaking of modifying known couple Minotaur 1/NROL-111, I'm just surprised that, about an unnamed launch in "2nd Qtr CY2021", you formally link this to Minotaur 1/NROL-111.
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Cross-post re: the next NRO launch from Wallops, after NROL-129:
https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/news/Press%20Kit_Launch_NROL-129.pdf?ver=2020-07-07-134345-553
Upcoming Scheduled launches—
<snip>
• The next launch from NASA Wallops is scheduled for 2nd Qtr CY2021
<snip>
Can't it be an Electron, like NROL-151 but from Wallops Island ?
When speaking of Electron, I'm not speaking of modifying known couple Minotaur 1/NROL-111, I'm just surprised that, about an unnamed launch in "2nd Qtr CY2021", you formally link this to Minotaur 1/NROL-111.
It can also be NROL-174 which is also on a Minotaur.
"Eberly said the NRO has booked two more Minotaur launches scheduled for next year, NROL-111 and NROL-174. The NRO is viewed as an attractive customer for Northrop Grumman’s solid rockets, said Eberly. The vehicles can be assembled and launched on short notice which fits the agency’s need for “rapid response,” he said."
https://spacenews.com/northrop-grumman-minotaur-4-launches-nro-mission-its-first-from-virginia-spaceport/
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NROL-174 is given as late 2021, not Q2.
See Spaceflight Now's article : https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/15/minotaur-rocket-successfully-deploys-four-nro-satellites-in-orbit/
" A classified payload is scheduled to take off on a Minotaur 1 rocket in the second quarter of 2021 on the NROL-111 mission. The NRO has also purchased another Minotaur 4 rocket for the launch of the NROL-174 mission in late 2021, Eberly said. Both of those missions will launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Virginia, military officials said. "
And by the way it confirms Q2's launch is NROL-111.
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SFN Launch Schedule (https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/), updated October 6, 2020:
Launch in March 2021.
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Another Minotaur launch for the National Reconnaissance Office, NROL-111, is planned for this summer from Wallops. This is the second of three missions the Space Force procured from Northrop Grumman for the NRO. The first was NROL-129 launched in 2020. A third one, NROL-174, has not yet been scheduled.
https://spacenews.com/space-forces-small-launch-program-looks-to-pick-up-pace-after-a-year-of-delays/
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Cross-post:
SFN Launch Schedule (https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/), February 23
June • Minotaur 1 • NROL-111
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Pad 0B, Wallops Island, Virginia
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https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1394360805945184260
LAUNCH UPDATE: The next NRO launch to watch is #NROL111 on a
@northropgrumman
#Minotaur rocket from
@VCSFA_MARS
Pad 0B at
@NASA_Wallops
NET June 15--stay tuned for our mission patch reveal!
Launch date is NET June 15
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May 17, 2021
Media Accreditation Open for Minotaur I Rocket Launch June 15 from NASA Wallops
Media accreditation is open for the June 15 launch from Virginia of a Northrop Grumman Minotaur I rocket for the United States Space Force (USSF) carrying a national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The USSF Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise is providing the launch services for this mission, named NROL-111.
The rocket will launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad 0B at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic a limited number of media will be credentialed to cover the Minotaur I launch. Only media who are U.S. citizens may apply.
Media must apply for accreditation by 4 p.m. Friday, May 28, by sending a request to Keith Koehler at [email protected].
The NRO is the Intelligence Community element and a Department of Defense agency responsible for developing, acquiring, launching, and operating America’s intelligence satellites to meet the national security needs of the nation.
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Last (most recent) Minotaur 1 launch was on November 20, 2013! I can't immediately recall any specific launch vehicle with a longer "gap", though eight years did pass between the last Juno 1 and the first Redstone Sparta (though with many suborbital Redstones between).
- Ed Kyle
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NRO presents the mission patch NROL-111 also says that it is still targeting NET June 15 for launch.
https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1397261403078205444
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Here's the logo.
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During the launch of the VIPER suborbital rocket a few minutes ago (01:15 UTC on May 26), NASA Wallops confirms that the next launch from these facilities will be the NROL-111 mission.
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Last (most recent) Minotaur 1 launch was on November 20, 2013! I can't immediately recall any specific launch vehicle with a longer "gap",
Titan II?
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Last (most recent) Minotaur 1 launch was on November 20, 2013! I can't immediately recall any specific launch vehicle with a longer "gap",
Titan II?
Titan 23G differed quite a bit from Gemini-Titan 2. The 23G vehicles were built using parts from numerous retired Titan 2 missiles that were torn down, tested, rewelded, modified, retested, with upgraded avionics, etc. Still, they had common heritage, no doubt. There was a 22 year gap from Gemini 12 to Titan 23G-1.
- Ed Kyle
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https://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/1399773021297168386
🚀 LAUNCH UPDATE: Our #NROL111 mission launch is targeting NET June 15, between 6:30-11:30 a.m. EDT on a @northropgrumman #Minotaur rocket from @VCSFA_MARS Pad 0B at @NASA_Wallops. #VASpace @USSF_SMC 📸: Photo Credit NASA Wallops
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If this launch takes place at the opening of the window, it'll be about 49 minutes after sunrise. Even though this won't be a twilight launch, I'm sure several East Coast states will still get a good view of it.
...
https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/
Pad coordinates: 37.831108 N, 75.491356 W
Sunrise: 5:40:55 AM Eastern (09:40:55 UTC)
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According to NextSpaceFlight the launch will be at 10:30 UTC.
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A larger version of the image, but I do not think that this is this-year's Minotaur. 61 inch fairing in this image.
- Ed Kyle
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A larger version of the image, but I do not think that this is this-year's Minotaur. 61 inch fairing in this image.
- Ed Kyle
PLF has the ORS-1 patch at the top.
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Are there any more planned Minotaur I launches following the launch of NROL-111? If so, there may be several mothballed Minuteman III ICBMs earmarked for use by Northrop Grumman to manufacture additional Minotaur Is.
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Are there any more planned Minotaur I launches following the launch of NROL-111? If so, there may be several mothballed Minuteman III ICBMs earmarked for use by Northrop Grumman to manufacture additional Minotaur Is.
The other way around. There are several mothballed Minuteman III ICBMs, so there may be more Minotaur Is
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https://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/1402309579967447041
🚀 LAUNCH UPDATE: We’re targeting 0700 EDT on June 15 for our NROL-111 mission launch on a @northropgrumman #Minotaur rocket from @VCSFA_MARS Pad 0B at @NASA_Wallops alongside @USSF_SMC. #VASpace #BoldnessBeMyFriend
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11:00 UTC
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NASA says 3 payloads will travel on the mission.
https://www.nasa.gov/wallops/2021/feature/watch-the-june-15-minotaur-1-launch-from-wallops/#.YL_DvkMzJow.twitter
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These would be the first images of the Minotaur I rocket on the launch pad.
https://twitter.com/joroulette/status/1403005763325284354
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https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1403139459009368064
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NGA notice:
110950Z JUN 21
NAVAREA IV 488/21(GEN).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
VIRGINIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
151000Z TO 151530Z JUN, ALTERNATE
1000Z TO 1530Z DAILY 16 THRU 21 JUN
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 37-57-27N 075-27-32W, 37-38-42N 074-52-00W,
37-24-46N 075-06-02W, 37-41-36N 075-37-02W.
B. 36-46-37N 074-55-59W, 37-18-40N 074-06-36W,
37-01-44N 073-19-30W, 36-27-47N 072-14-49W,
35-59-28N 072-14-38W, 35-30-18N 073-03-54W,
35-39-00N 074-02-06W.
C. 30-10-19N 069-45-00W, 33-31-19N 067-19-52W,
30-57-14N 064-49-52W, 29-31-30N 067-11-42W.
D. 07-00-00N 048-09-43W, 10-19-01N 044-06-50W,
06-14-02N 038-38-13W, 01-44-13N 043-46-37W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 211630Z JUN 21.
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First TFR is up:
https://twitter.com/SpaceTfrs/status/1403399318309122051?s=20
https://twitter.com/SpaceTfrs/status/1403431038722969608?s=20
https://twitter.com/SpaceTfrs/status/1403413664431054853?s=20
https://twitter.com/SpaceTfrs/status/1403420484792950791?s=20
https://twitter.com/SpaceTfrs/status/1403423549159837707?s=20
https://twitter.com/SpaceTfrs/status/1403427232459247624?s=20
https://twitter.com/SpaceTfrs/status/1403402312983494659?s=20
Edit: Multiple backup launch windows added
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https://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/1403804362066075648
🚀 The #NROL111 mission logo shows a flying wild boar in aviator gear. Boars are a good spirit guide to call on when you have ambitious goals, inspiring tenacity to achieve them. The three stars represent three payloads designed, built, and operated by NRO. ✨
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https://twitter.com/trevormahlmann/status/1404465886703009795
Remote cameras set for @arstechnica and the #NROL111 Minotaur I launch tomorrow! 🚀
With a 2.6:1 thrust to weight ratio, lotsa headroom for this flamey boi is necessary. It will surely be gone in the blink of an eye😆 can’t wait to see these shots!
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Webcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePwcJYE_BgI
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https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1404626787263340544
Tune in early Tuesday morning for the launch of a Minotaur I rocket from Wallops Island, Virginia with a classified payload. Coverage starts around 6:15 am Eastern (10:15 UTC) for a launch 45 minutes later.
https://youtu.be/Ls2Jbg7X7EI
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https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1404635473704886277
Potentially the final flight of Minotaur I tomorrow morning. #NROL111
Article by Trevor Sesnic (@124970MeV) and Mihir Neal (@MihirNeal): https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/06/nrol-111/
Webcast: youtube.com/watch?v=Ls2Jbg…
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https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/1404722974717091840
The Minotaur countdown for the NROL-111 mission is in a hold as a thunderstorm moves over Wallops Island.
Countdown preps, including rollback of the launch pad’s mobile gantry, will resume once the bad weather has moved away.
Live coverage: spaceflightnow.com/2021/06/15/min…
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https://twitter.com/trevormahlmann/status/1404753677072613380
Lightning advisory over the Wallops Flight Facility has been cancelled. Awaiting a new T-0, sounded like teams may try to shorten the count to T-2h 15min, if possible. Window runs through 10:00 am eastern. #NROL111
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https://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/1404780586229710848
Counting down to launch in one hour, 9:35 a.m. EDT! The #NROL111 mission logo shows a flying wild boar in aviator gear. Boars are a good spirit guide to call on when you have ambitious goals.The three stars represent three payloads designed, built, and operated by NRO. ✨
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NSF is live
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Jesus Christ that was fast. :o
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https://twitter.com/thefavoritist/status/1404807918600474626
Peel banana, peel peel banana!
Go bananas, go go bananas!
The thermal conditioning blanket wrapped around Minotaur’s first stage rips off as NROL-111 rockets toward orbit!
I wish these launched more often.
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From the NRO.
"Today the National Reconnaissance Office, in collaboration with U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, Northrop Grumman, and Virginia Space/Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, successfully launched the NROL-111 mission aboard a Northrop Grumman Minotaur I."
https://www.nro.gov/News/News-Articles/Article/2658542/nro-returns-to-virginias-space-coast-with-nrol-111/
Additionally, Space News reports that "The U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center confirmed on Tuesday that the payloads were deployed successfully."
https://spacenews.com/northrop-grummans-minotaur-1-rocket-launches-three-classified-nro-payloads/
- Ed Kyle
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https://twitter.com/trevormahlmann/status/1404833101692481544
Stunning. Minotaur I launches 3 clandestine payloads to orbit for the @NatReconOfc this morning at 9:35 am from Wallops Flight Facility🚀
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SRMs were fabricated more than half a century ago!
https://twitter.com/Skyrocket71/status/1404835884789342208
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National Reconnaissance Office 12h ·
To recap, our NROL-111 mission launched at 9:35 a.m. this morning on a Northrop Grumman Minotaur I rocket from MARS Pad 0B at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. NROL-111 is our second launch in 2021, our 60th anniversary year.
For six decades, NRO has been successfully innovating and meeting the needs of its U.S. intelligence, military, and federal civil partners and today remains the world’s leader in unique intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems.
“NRO is the best in the world at delivering space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to more than half a million government users working together to keep America safe,” said NRO Director Dr. Christopher Scolese. “NROL-111 is the 16th payload we put on orbit in 18 months to advance our mission of providing critical information to every member of the Intelligence Community, two dozen domestic agencies, our nation’s military, lawmakers, and decision makers.”
“NROL-111 continues NRO’s 60-year legacy of pushing the envelope of the possible through ingenuity and collaboration,” said NRO Principal Deputy Director Dr. Troy Meink. “Our legacy is carried on by the dedicated men and women of the NRO, and supported by our talented mission partners, who made today’s launch a success.”
NROL-111 is NRO’s final scheduled launch for 2021. In 2022, NRO is scheduled to start the year with two launches from New Zealand in January and February, NROL-162 and NROL-199. Also in February, NROL-87 is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Three additional NRO missions are planned for later in 2022.
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Jesus Christ that was fast. :o
The Minotaur family of launchers typically have extreme acceleration with short burns for their lower stages from their ICBM heritage. According to wikipedia, the thrust to weight ratio of the Minotaur 1 stage to the entire launch stack is above 2:1. ;)
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Wow
https://twitter.com/kyle_lts/status/1404836268316545029
The banana peel falls away!
This morning a Minotaur 1 lifted off with NROL-111 taking 3 payloads to orbit!
#nro #NROL111 #minotaur #wallops
https://twitter.com/kyle_lts/status/1405637111806582798
More banana peeling goodness!
The frame just before the pic I posted on Tuesday! The full launch gallery is up on my website at kylelts.photography/Rocket-Launche… and video from the launch is on my YouTube page!
#nro #wallops #wallopsisland #minotaur #launch #spaceforce #nrol111
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NRO released a highlights video of L-111 which includes shots of the payloads
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEv4AnuAZM4
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In the webcast of the NROL-162 launch, there is an animation showing the NROL-111 satellites deployed in orbit.