Liste der NRO-Satellitenstarts
Dies ist eine Liste der NRO-Satellitenstarts (National Reconnaissance Office Launches). Es sind nur Missionen mit der Bezeichnung NROL aufgelistet, andere Starts für das NRO (z. B. mit älteren Keyhole- oder Trumpet-Satelliten) sind nicht aufgeführt.
Liste der Satelliten
Stand der Liste: 31. Dezember 2023
Mission | Satelliten | Startdatum (UTC) | Trägerrakete | Startplatz | Orbit | Funktion | Status | Emblem | Anmerkungen |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NROL-1 | USA 179 „Nemesis“ | 31. August 2004 23:17 | Atlas IIAS | CCAFS SLC-36A | Molnija | milit. Kommunikation | |||
NROL-2 | USA 129 | 20. Dezember 1996 18:04 | Titan IV | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Bildaufklärung | inaktiv | ||
NROL-3 | USA 133 | 24. Oktober 1997 02:32 | Titan IV | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Radaraufklärung | Satellit der Lacrosse-Serie | ||
NROL-4 | USA 136 „Oscar“ | 8. November 1997 02:05 | Titan IV | CCAFS LC-41 | Molnija | ELINT | Satellit der Trumpet-Serie | ||
NROL-5 | USA 137 „Capricorn“ | 29. Januar 1998 18:37 | Atlas IIA | CCAFS LC-36A | Molnija | milit. Kommunikation | |||
NROL-6 | USA 139 „Jack“ | 9. Mai 1998 01:38 | Titan IV/Centaur | CCAFS LC-40 | GEO | ELINT | |||
NROL-7 | Mercury 16 Elwood | 12. August 1998 11:30 | Titan IV/Centaur | CCAFS LC-41 | GEO | ELINT | zerstört | Rakete kam 40 Sekunden nach dem Start vom Kurs ab und musste gesprengt werden | |
NROL-8 | USA 140 USA 141 | 3. Oktober 1998 10:04 | Taurus-1110 | VAFB LC-576E | LEO | Technologieerprobung | Der Satellit hatte das SMEx-Experiment an Bord, das die Bezeichnung USA 141 bekam | ||
NROL-9 | USA 144 | 22. Mai 1999 09:36 | Titan IVB | VAFB SLC-4E | MEO | Bildaufklärung | Erster Titan-IVB-Start von Vandenberg aus | ||
NROL-10 | USA 155 „Ursa Major“ | 6. Dezember 2000 02:47 | Atlas IIAS | CCAFS LC-36A | GEO | milit. Kommunikation | |||
NROL-11 | USA 152 „Vega“ | 17. August 2000 23:45 | Titan IVB | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Radaraufklärung | inaktiv | Satellit der Lacrosse-Serie | |
NROL-12 | USA 162 „Aquila“ | 11. Oktober 2001 02:32 | Atlas IIAS | CCAFS LC-36B | GEO | milit. Kommunikation | |||
NROL-13 | USA 160 „Gemini“ | 8. September 2001 15:25 | Atlas IIAS | VAFB SLC-3E | LEO | Meeresüberwachung | zwei Satelliten | ||
NROL-14 | USA 161 | 5. Oktober 2001 21:21 | Titan IVB | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Bildaufklärung | inaktiv | Verglüht im November 2014[1] | |
NROL-15 | USA 237 | 29. Juni 2012 13:15 | Delta IV Heavy | CCAFS LC-37B | GEO | ELINT | |||
NROL-16 | USA 182 „Prometheus“ | 30. April 2005 00:50 | Titan IVB | CCAFS LC-40 | LEO | Radaraufklärung | Satellit der Lacrosse-Serie | ||
NROL-17 | USA 158 (GeoLITE) | 18. Mai 2001 17:45 | Delta II 7925 | CCAFS LC-17B | GEO | Technologieerprobung | inaktiv | Wurde nach Missionsende in einen Friedhofsorbit verschoben.[2] | |
NROL-18 | USA 173 „Libra“ | 2. Dezember 2003 10:04 | Atlas IIAS | VAFB SLC-3E | LEO | Meeresüberwachung | zwei Satelliten | ||
NROL-19 | USA 171 „Homer“ | 9. September 2003 04:29 | Titan IVB/Centaur | CCAFS LC-40 | GEO | ELINT | |||
NROL-20 | USA 186 | 19. Oktober 2005 18:05 | Titan IVB | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Bildaufklärung | Letzter Start einer Trägerrakete des Typs Titan | ||
NROL-21 | USA 193 | 14. Dezember 2006 21:00 | Delta II 7920 | VAFB SLC-2W | LEO | Technologieerprobung | zerstört | Der Satellit wurde am 21. Februar 2008 im Orbit von einer Anti-Satelliten-Rakete abgeschossen, um die Bevölkerung vor gefrorenem Hydrazin zu schützen | |
NROL-22 | USA 184 | 28. Juni 2006 03:33 | Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) | VAFB SLC-6 | Molnija | ELINT | Satellit der Trumpet-Serie, an Bord war das SBIRS-HEO-1-Experiment untergebracht | ||
NROL-23 | USA 181 „Canis Minor“ | 3. Februar 2005 07:41 | Altas-IIIB | CCAFS LC-36B | LEO | Meeresüberwachung | zwei Satelliten | ||
NROL-24 | USA 198 „Scorpius“ | 10. Dezember 2007 22:05 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS LC-41 | Molnija | milit. Kommunikation | |||
NROL-25 | USA 234 „Altair“ | 3. April 2012 23:12 | Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) | VAFB SLC-6 | LEO (retrograd) | Radaraufklärung | |||
NROL-26 | USA 202 | 18. Januar 2009 02:47 | Delta IV Heavy | CCAFS LC-37B | GEO | ELINT | |||
NROL-27 | USA 227 „Gryphon“ | 11. März 2011 23:38 | Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) | CCAFS LC-37B | GEO[3] | milit. Kommunikation | |||
NROL-28 | USA 200 | 13. März 2008 10:02 | Atlas V 411 | VAFB SLC-3E | Molnija | ELINT | Satellit der Trumpet-Serie, an Bord war das SBIRS-HEO-2-Experiment untergebracht | ||
NROL-29 | – | - | Atlas V 521 | VAFB SLC-3E | ? | Bildaufklärung[4] | storniert | ||
NROL-30 | USA 194 „Pyxis“ | 15. Juni 2007 15:12 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS LC-41 | LEO | Meeresüberwachung | Aufgrund eines Fehlers der Centaur-Stufe wurde eine niedrigere Umlaufbahn als vorgesehen erreicht. Nutzlast konnte aber mit eigenem Antrieb den geplanten Orbit erreichen[5] | ||
NROL-32 | USA 223 | 21. November 2010 22:58 | Delta IV Heavy | CCAFS LC-37B | GEO | ELINT | Zur Zeit als Back-Up-Satellit für NROL-26 außer Betrieb genommen | ||
NROL-33 | USA 252 | 22. Mai 2014 13:09 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS LC-41 | GEO | milit. Kommunikation | |||
NROL-34 | USA 229 „Odin“ | 15. April 2011 04:24 | Atlas V 411[6] | VAFB SLC-3E | LEO | SIGINT | zwei Satelliten | ||
NROL-35 | USA 259 „Jacquelyn“ | 13. Dezember 2014 03:19 | Atlas V 541 | VAFB SLC-3E | Molnija | ELINT | Satellit der Trumpet-Serie, an Bord war das SBIRS-HEO-3-Experiment untergebracht | ||
NROL-36 | USA 238 | 13. September 2012 21:39 | Atlas V 401 | VAFB SLC-3E | LEO | SIGINT | zwei Satelliten | ||
NROL-37 | USA 268 | 11. Juni 2016 17:51 | Delta IV Heavy | CCAFS LC-37B | GEO | SIGINT | Wahrscheinlich der siebte so genannte Orion-Satellit für die National Security Agency. | ||
NROL-38 | USA 236 „Drake“ | 20. Juni 2012 12:28 | Atlas V 401[7] | CCAFS LC-41 | GEO | milit. Kommunikation | |||
NROL-39 | USA 247 „Belle“ | 6. Dezember 2013 07:14 | Atlas V 501[8] | VAFB SLC-3E | LEO | Radaraufklärung | |||
NROL-41 | USA 215 „Gladys“ | 21. September 2010 04:03 | Atlas V 501 | VAFB SLC-3E | LEO (retrograd) | Radaraufklärung | |||
NROL-42 | USA 278 | 24. September 2017 05:49:47 | Atlas V 541 | VAFB SLC-3E | Molnija | ELINT | Satellit der Trumpet-Serie, an Bord war das SBIRS-HEO-4-Experiment untergebracht | ||
NROL-44 | USA 311 | 11. Dezember 2020 01:09 | Delta IV Heavy | CCAFS LC-37B | GEO | SIGINT | |||
NROL-45 | USA 267 | 10. Februar 2016 11:40 | Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) | VAFB SLC-6 | LEO (retrograd) | Radaraufklärung | |||
NROL-47 | USA 281 | 12. Januar 2018 22:11 | Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) | VAFB SLC-6 | LEO (retrograd) | Radaraufklärung | |||
NROL-49 | USA 224 „Betty“ | 20. Januar 2011 21:10 | Delta IV Heavy | VAFB SLC-6 | LEO | Bildaufklärung | |||
NROL-52 | USA 279 | 15. Oktober 2017 07:28 | Atlas V 421 | CCAFS LC-41 | GEO | milit. Kommunikation | |||
NROL-55 | USA 264 | 8. Oktober 2015 12:49 | Atlas V 401 | VAFB SLC-3E | LEO | SIGINT, ELINT | zwei Satelliten | ||
NROL-56[9] | Vulcan-Centaur | geplant | |||||||
NROL-57[9] | Falcon | geplant | |||||||
NROL-61 | USA 269 „Spike“ | 28. Juli 2016 12:37 | Atlas V 421 | CCAFS SLC-41 | GEO | milit. Kommunikation | |||
NROL-64[10] | Vulcan-Centaur | geplant | |||||||
NROL-65 | USA 245 | 28. August 2013 18:03 | Delta IV Heavy[11] | VAFB SLC-6 | LEO | Bildaufklärung | |||
NROL-66 | USA 225 | 6. Februar 2011 12:26 | Minotaur-1 | VAFB SLC-8 | LEO | Technologieerprobung | |||
NROL-67 | USA 250 | 10. April 2014 17:45 | Atlas V 541 | CCAFS LC-41 | GEO | SIGINT, ELINT | |||
NROL-68 | USA 345 | 22. Juni 2023 09:18 | Delta IV Heavy | CCSFS SLC-37B | GEO | SIGINT, ELINT | Satellit der Orion-Reihe | ||
NROL-69 | 2024 (geplant)[12] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | geplant | ||||||
NROL-70 | 2024 (geplant)[13] | Delta IV Heavy | CCSFS SLC-37B | GEO | SIGINT, ELINT | geplant | Satellit der Orion-Reihe | ||
NROL-71 | USA 290 | 19. Januar 2019 19:10 | Delta IV Heavy | VAFB SLC-6 | LEO | ||||
NROL-73[9] | Vulcan-Centaur | geplant | |||||||
NROL-76 | USA 276 | 1. Mai 2017 11:15 | Falcon 9 Block 3 | KSC LC-39A | LEO | ||||
NROL-77[9] | Falcon | geplant | |||||||
NROL-79 | USA 274 | 1. März 2017 17:50 | Atlas V 401 | VAFB SLC-3E | LEO | Meeresüberwachung | zwei Satelliten | ||
NROL-82 | USA 314 | 26. April 2021 20:47 | Delta IV Heavy | VSFB SLC-6 | LEO | Bildaufklärung | |||
NROL-83[10] | Vulcan-Centaur | geplant | |||||||
NROL-85 | USA 327 | 17. April 2022 15:13 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | VSFB SLC-4E | LEO | Aufklärungssatellit | |||
NROL-87 | USA 326 | 2. Februar 2022 20:27[14] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | VSFB SLC-4E | SSO | ||||
NROL-91 | USA 338 | 24. September 2022 22:25 | Delta IV Heavy | VSFB SLC-6 | (geheim) | ||||
NROL-100[9] | Vulcan-Centaur | geplant | |||||||
NROL-101 | USA 310 | 13. November 2020 22:32 | Atlas V 531 | CCAFS SLC-41 | MEO[15] | ||||
NROL-107 | USA 346–348 „Silentbarker“ | 10. September 2023 12:47 | Atlas V 551 | CCSFS SLC-41 | GEO | Weltraumüberwachung | |||
NROL-108 | USA 312, USA 313 | 19. Dezember 2020 14:00 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | KSC LC-39A | LEO | ||||
NROL-109[9] | Vulcan-Centaur | geplant | |||||||
NROL-111 | USA 316–318 | 15. Juni 2021 13:35 | Minotaur I | MARS Pad 0B | LEO | drei Satelliten | |||
NROL-118[9] | „Silentbarker 2“ | Vulcan-Centaur | geplant | ||||||
NROL-129 | USA 305–308 | 15. Juli 2020 13:46 | Minotaur IV | MARS Pad 0B | LEO | vier Satelliten | |||
NROL-151 | USA 294 | 31. Januar 2020 02:56 | Electron KS | Mahia | LEO | ||||
NROL-162 | USA 334 | 13. Juli 2022 06:30 | Electron KS | Mahia | LEO | ||||
NROL-174 | Februar 2024 (geplant)[16] | Minotaur IV | VSFB SLC-8 | geplant | |||||
NROL-199 | USA 335 | 4. August 2022 05:00 | Electron KS | Mahia | LEO |
Erklärung
- Mission: Bezeichnung des Starts
- Satelliten: Offizielle Bezeichnung der gestarteten Satelliten; inoffiziell wurden teils anderen Namen bekannt, beispielsweise Keyhole und Trumpet für zwei Serien von Aufklärungssatelliten.
- Startdatum (UTC): Tag und die Uhrzeit des Starts in Koordinierter Weltzeit
- Trägerrakete: Typ der genutzten Trägerrakete
- Startplatz: Startort und Startrampe
- Orbit: Die Art von Umlaufbahn, aus welcher die Nutzlast arbeitet; kann vom Aussetzorbit abweichen, in den der Satellit zunächst von der Trägerrakete gebracht wurde.
- Funktion: Zweck der Satelliten
- Status: Status des Satelliten, soweit bekannt
- Emblem: Offizielles Missionslogo des NRO
- Anmerkungen: Weitere Informationen über die Mission
Weblinks
- USA military satellites auf Gunter′s Space Page (englisch)
- NROL launches auf Gunter′s Space Page (englisch)
Einzelnachweise
- ↑ Sattrackcam Leiden: SatTrackCam Leiden (b)log: USA 224 recovered: an update of the KH-11 constellation. In: SatTrackCam Leiden (b)log. 30. Juni 2016, abgerufen am 31. Dezember 2022.
- ↑ Technical details for satellite USA 158. Abgerufen am 31. Dezember 2022.
- ↑ William Graham: Delta IV dodges upper level winds and launches with NROL-27 satellite bei nasaspaceflight.com (englisch).
- ↑ FIA-Optical 1, 2 bei Gunter′s Space Page (englisch).
- ↑ Aviation Week: Secret NRO ocean surveillance spacecraft in wrong orbit; 15. Juni 2007, abgerufen am 2. Januar 2018 (englisch).
- ↑ William Graham: ULA Atlas V launches with NROL-34 payload bei nasaspaceflight.com (englisch).
- ↑ William Graham: ULA Atlas V marks 50th EELV launch by lofting NROL-38 uphill bei nasaspaceflight.com (englisch).
- ↑ William Graham: Atlas V launches NROL-39 from Vandenberg bei nasaspaceflight.com (englisch).
- ↑ a b c d e f g Sandra Erwin: Space Force assigns 21 national security missions to ULA and SpaceX. In: SpaceNews. 31. Oktober 2023, abgerufen am 3. November 2023 (amerikanisches Englisch).
- ↑ a b A Space Force dozen: SpaceX, ULA awarded contracts to launch 12 new satellites
- ↑ Florian Rötzer: Neuer Spionagesatellit in Umlaufbahn gebracht bei heise.de.
- ↑ Falcon-9. Abgerufen am 25. Dezember 2022 (englisch).
- ↑ ULA Delta IV Heavy successfully launches NROL-44. Nasaspaceflight.com, 10. Dezember 2020.
- ↑ NROL-87 MISSION. In: spacex.com. Abgerufen am 7. Februar 2022 (englisch).
- ↑ Technical details for satellite USA 310. In: N2YO. Abgerufen am 31. Dezember 2022.
- ↑ NROL-174. RocketLaunch.Live, abgerufen am 31. Dezember 2023 (englisch).
Auf dieser Seite verwendete Medien
The NROL-44 mission is represented by a patch with five wolves that show the solidarity across the Five Eyes (FVEY) community. The wolf's howl represents its capability to warn the pack as the first point of detection against threats.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-12 mission patch featuring red spikes emanating from the Earth at center with the codename "Aquila".
NROL-71 VAFB DELTA IV-H Serving Those Who Serve
The mission patch #NROL71 depicts an eagle as the symbol of both freedom and the nation, which provides a fitting mascot to represent NRO's support to our nation's warfighter. The initials "JLC" on the foreground dog-tag are in honor of Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain, a Union commander who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism at the battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, when he held the Union Army's southern flank at Little Round Top against a repeated assault from Confederate forces. Col. Chamberlain's heroism, leadership, and commitment to 'service before self' exemplify the ethos of the American service member.
The patch also includes the NRO mission number, NROL-71, along with Delta IV Heavy and Vandenberg AFB to indicate both the launch vehicle and location.
The motto "Serving Those Who Serve" rounds out the mission logo and represents NRO's commitment to delivering the mission on time to the warfighter and intelligence community.NROL-47 patch.
Patch of NROL-32 as released by NRO
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-20 mission patch featuring an eagle swooping over Earth while a Titan IVB rocket takes flight. The top text reads "Era of Excellence", referring to the conclusion of the Titan rocket family era with this final Titan launch, while the text below reads "VAFB - B-26 - SLC-4E".
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-111 mission patch featuring a flying wild boar wearing traditional aviator gear. Below is the short name for this mission: NROL-111, as well as the words "Boldness Be My Friend". Above the boar are three stars representing the three NRO payloads scheduled to fly on this mission.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-6 mission patch featuring a dragon in space with stars, the Earth, and the American flag.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-9 mission patch with the text "TITAN 4" at top, featuring two symbols from Led Zeppelin's untitled album on top (in place of the letter "A") and bottom, with the silhouette of characters from Mystery Science Theater 3000 in the center of the patch looking up at something resembling a group of white stars and the red numeral "5".
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-42 mission patch. According to the NRO, this design "depicts a grizzly bear, whose stance indicates motion, representing the unceasing motion of a satellite along its orbital path."
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-24 mission patch featuring the constellation Scorpius with a scorpion silhouette above the Earth with three red orbits intersecting at a star. The text "Scorpius" sits along the top border and the Latin phrase "Caveo Noster Morsus" ("Beware of Our Sting") around the bottom.
Mission patch for the NROL-33
The NROL-129 mission is represented by two launch patches featuring two warrior figures working together to defend our nation’s interests and deny our enemies sanctuary. The patches include the phrase “Our Time has Come,” which symbolizes that these payloads will enable the NRO’s continued support to both defense and intelligence operations in support of national security.
We asked yesterday if you could guess the #reptile on the #NROL162 patch just on its shadow. It’s the frilled lizard! Primarily found in Northern Australia, this lizard is small but mighty, and represents the small and agile nature of the payload.
Secondary patch design for the NROL-11 mission featuring the same owl eyes motif as the other patch plus a wireframe Earth and a Titan IV pictured in flight. "Titan IV" and "B-28" (the Titan launch designation) are written at top and "SLC-4E Vandenberg AFB" around the bottom border.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-37 mission patch featuring the Roman numerals "XXXVII" (37) at the bottom and, according to the NRO, "a knight, a symbol of courage with a chivalrous code of conduct representing bravery, training, and service to others. The knight stands in front of the U.S. flag in a defensive posture as to protect at all cost. The eagle on the chest is a symbol of both freedom and the United States of America. The sword is a message of tenacious, fierce focus with the claws representing extreme reach with global coverage.".
According to the NRO, "Gorillas are peaceful animals but can be fierce when necessary. Like the gorilla, our NROL-108 mission is constantly vigilant and ready to defend its own, demonstrating NRO's commitment to protecting U.S. warfighters, interests, and allies."
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-8 mission patch with the words "NRO" and "Space Technology Experiment" around the border with stars and a cluster of spheres orbiting Earth on a blue background in the center.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-19 mission patch featuring a green dragon with wings painted with the American flag gripping the Earth in its talons and a diamond around its tail.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-151 mission patch featuring a deer head. "The NROL-151 mission logo is a light-hearted way to wish NROL-151 good fortune and luck on its mission" according to the NRO.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-38 mission patch featuring a blue three-headed dragon clutched around the Earth with the title "Drake" and text "Non Morieris Bello" which translates from Latin to "You Shall Not Die in War".
Each launch patch tells a story. The 3 stars represent guidance, protection, and allegiance; and the tiger in the cat’s reflection demonstrates that while space can be challenging, a determined attitude helps NRO go #AboveandBeyond to protect our nation.
Mission patch for the NROL-107 mission of the National Reconnaissance Office
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-15 mission patch featuring a fierce black panther and the text "Delta IV HLV" (Heavy-lift Launch Vehicle), "NROL-15", and "CCAFS" (Cape Canaveral Air Force Station).
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-26 mission patch featuring the Statue of Liberty emerging from an American flag beneath a starry sky with a shooting star. The border reads, "NROL-26 - Inaugural NRO EELV Heavy Launch - National Reconnaissance Office".
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-52 mission patch. According to the NRO, this design "depicts an eagle bursting through a red, white and blue shield as a representation of the agency's resolve to breaking through barriers in pursuit of innovative technologies and capabilities. Also appearing on the patch is the Latin phrase Defensor Libertatis, which means defender of freedom and symbolizes NRO's continued commitment to the national security mission."
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-4 mission patch featuring the Latin phrase "Nunquam Ante Numquam Iterum" (Never Before, Never Again) along the bottom border, three snakes menacingly wrapped around the Earth, three blue stars (one left, two right) along the top border, and eight white stars (four left, four right) along left and right borders.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-82 mission patch depicting an Eagle dressed in an aviator's flight jacket and goggles, wearing a shoulder patch with the letters "GPB" and three stars. An American flag and an airplane are in the backdrop. The patch border says "Delta IV-H - NROL-82", "Vandenberg AFB", and "Tacitae Libertatis Custodemque" (Latin for "Silent Guardian of Liberty").
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-5 mission patch featuring a ten-pointed pattern with stars between the points, a roman numeral "X" in the center, and the mission codename "Capricorn" around the border.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-34 mission patch featuring Odin and the phrase "Wisdom Imparts Strength - Strength Defends Wisdom".
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-41 mission patch featuring the malformed Latin phrase "Ut Curator et Protego" which possibly translates roughly as "To Oversee and Protect".
Official patch of the National Reconnaissance Office classified mission NROL-76 launched from Cape Canaveral with a Falcon 9 rocket on May 1st 2017.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-28 mission patch depicting an eagle, American flag, and the planet Earth, with the text "NROL-28" colored with stars and stripes. "National Reconnaissance Office" is written in yellow around the top perimeter and "VAFB Atlas V Inaugural Launch" around the bottom perimeter below a yellow shooting star.
National Reconnaissance Office patch for the NROL-199 launch
Pretty symbolic, don’t you think? The #NROL87 launch patch features a wild mountain goat standing proud atop a mountain peak remaining watchfully alert. NRO maintains constant vigilance from above in protecting our nation and its citizens.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-10 mission patch depicting a cute teddy bear and the mission nickname "Great Bear" in colorful text. According to an NRO press release[1] for the launch:
"The mission was dedicated to Mr. Dan Potter, a longtime NRO employee who was a volunteer in the Partners in Education Program at Cub Run Elementary School in Centreville, VA. Potter died two years ago and to commemorate his dedicated work as a tutor and mentor at the school, a logo was displayed on the Atlas II's payload fairing representing the Great Bear constellation - Ursa Major. (The bear is the mascot of Cub Run Elementary School.) More than 700 entries were submitted by the school's students and the winning logo was designed by Samantha Wingo."
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-18 mission patch featuring an Eagle and American flag above Earth's surface and the mission nickname "Libra" star constellation and text.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-36 mission patch featuring a bison and the text "Made in the USA" and "Freedom's Shield and Hope".
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-101 mission patch featuring a golden Earth focused on Afro-Eurasia and many stars in the surrounding space. The top border text reads "NROL-101 Cape Canaveral" and the bottom text says "Goodness Persists" in Tengwar script from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth.
National Reconnaissance Office badge for mission L-55. A weapon smith (maybe Hephaistos) is forging a sword. "SUSTENTANTES BELLATORES DE CÆLIS" means something like "In sustained support of the warriors, from the sky/or heaven"
Launch of Delta IV NROL-65, August 28, 2013 from Vandenberg Air Force Base
NROL 39 vector logo obtained via FOIA request
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-1 mission patch with the mission nickname "Nemesis" at the bottom border.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-21 mission patch with "XXI" (21 in Roman numerals) and the Earth in a triangle, with Vandenberg AFB emphasized with a white flare.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-35 mission patch featuring a powerful purple sorceress wielding a trident and bolt of fire, along with text around the border reading "Atlas V", "NROL-35", and "Vandenberg".
The mission patch for the NRO 79 satellites has a woman warrior with an owl-eye “modification” and a Medusa shield to carry out “Victory With Intelligence” in Latin on the shield.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-61 mission patch featuring the mission mascot Spike the Lizard riding the Atlas V 421 rocket into space. The stars represents the teams from various agencies who contributed to the project.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-11 mission patch features the phrase "We Own the Night" and an owl's eyes watching over the night side of Earth with the orbits of four satellites representing the Lacrosse constellation: two in a 57° orbit (USA-34, filled black because it had deorbited in 1997, and USA-133/NROL-3) and two in a 68° orbit (USA-69 and USA-152/NROL-11, this launch).
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-27 mission patch featuring a griffon flying among the heavens with crow and lion constellations. The top border text reads "We Will Prevail" while the bottom border says "Gryphon" (an alternate spelling of "griffon") and the Latin phrase "Custos Divini" (Divine Guardian).
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-17 mission patch with the text "GeoLITE".
NROL-68 patch Dragon
Secondary official patch design for the NROL-45 mission. "Ever Vigilant - NROL-45"
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-16 mission patch depicting an American flag-waving gorilla and dove with the border text reading "National Reconnaissance Office - NROL-16 - To Success - Titan IVB-30".
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-66 mission patch featuring a rocket with the body of a minotaur holding an "NROL 66" highway sign in the style of classic Route 66 signs along with the slogan text "Get Your Kicks on 66" above the earth with the United States colored as an American flag.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-25 mission patch featuring an angry bull branded with "XXV" (Roman numeral "25") and text around the border reading "Victoria Commissa Omnibus", Latin for "Committed to Victory For All".
Primary official patch design for the NROL-45 mission. "For Those Who Have Given All - L-45 - We Remember - VAFB"
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-67 mission patch featuring a pegasus and the Latin phrase "In Scientia Opportunitas" (In Knowledge, There is Opportunity).
Patch for the NROL-91 mission of the National Reconnaissance Office
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-65 mission patch featuring a buff eagle named "DYS" wrangling a snake and the Earth. The left border features the Gaelic language phrase "Sheachadadh Do Rudai" (Deliver Your Stuff).
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-30 mission patch featuring a clipper ship with the mission nickname "Pyxis" in the border at top and Latin phrase "Non est ad astra mollis e terris via" (There is no easy way from the earth to the stars) at the bottom.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-14 mission patch with the text "NRO", "SLC4E", "B-34", and "VAFB".
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-49 mission patch featuring the Latin phrase "Melior Diabolus Quem Scies" (Better The Devil You Know).
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-23 mission patch depicting the labeled constellation Canis Minor with a dog silhouette and a red, white, and blue ribbon. The border text reads "AC206 Atlas IIIB" around the top and "MLV-15" along the bottom.
The NROL-129 mission is represented by two launch patches featuring two warrior figures working together to defend our nation’s interests and deny our enemies sanctuary. The patches include the phrase “Our Time has Come,” which symbolizes that these payloads will enable the NRO’s continued support to both defense and intelligence operations in support of national security.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-22 mission patch featuring the Earth in a starry backdrop, an orange shooting star, and a partial triangle composed of red, white, and blue stripes starting with a white star and ending with an orange vector. Text at the top says "National Reconnaissance Office" and "Inaugural EELV Launch" (this was the first Delta IV launch for the NRO, and the first from Vandenberg). The bottom text reads "NROL-22" in stars-and-stripes lettering.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-13 mission patch featuring the astrological sign Gemini (♊) with two stars and the text "Gemini". The design is very similar to NASA's Project Gemini manned spaceflight program, except recolored and lacking the "NASA" name at top.