List of NRO launches explained

This is a list of NRO Launch (NROL) designations for satellites operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office. Those missions are generally classified, so that their exact purposes and orbital elements are not published.

However, amateur astronomers have managed to observe most of the satellites, and leaked information has led to the identification of many of the payloads.

Launch statistics

Launch sites

Launch history

Launch designation	Payload nickname	Satellite designation	Date/time, UTC	Launch site	Rocket	Orbit	Project	Function	Status	Patch	Remarks
L-	Nemesis^[1]	USA-179	23:17^[2]	CCAFS, SLC-36A	Atlas IIAS	39,053 × 1,316 km × 63.7° (Molniya)^[3]	Quasar 15^[4]	Communications	Entered service, status unknown
L-		USA-129	18:04	VAFB, SLC-4E	Titan IV	LEO	KH-11 12^[5]	Optical imaging	Deorbited		Reentered on 1 May 2014.^[6] ^[7]
L-		USA-133	02:32	VAFB, SLC-4E	Titan IV	679 × 666 km × 57° (LEO)^[8]	Lacrosse 3	Synthetic-aperture radar	Deorbited
L-	Oscar	USA-136	02:05	CCAFS, SLC-41	Titan IV/Centaur	36,523 × 3,849 km × 63.6° (Molniya)^[9]	Trumpet 3^[10]	ELINT	Entered service, status unknown
L-	Capricorn	USA-137	18:37	CCAFS, SLC-36A	Atlas IIA	Molniya	Quasar 12	Communications	Entered service, status unknown
L-	Jack	USA-139^[11]	01:38	CCAFS, SLC-40	Titan IV/Centaur	35,945 × 35,642 km × 8.4° (GSO)^[12]	Orion 4^[13]	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-	Elwood	N/A	11:30	CCAFS, SLC-41	Titan IV/Centaur	GSO (planned)	Mercury	ELINT	Destroyed	"Cheers! Saving the Best for Last!!"	Rocket self-destructed 40 seconds into launch due to guidance problem.^[14]
L-		USA-140, USA-141	10:04	VAFB, LC-576E	Taurus 1110	LEO	STEX	Technology	Entered service, status unknown		ATEX experiment jettisoned on 16 January 1999 and catalogued as USA-141.
L-		USA-144	09:36	VAFB, SLC-4E^[15]	Titan IVB		Misty	Optical imaging	Entered service, status unknown		First Titan IV-B launch from VAFB.
L-	Ursa Major (Great Bear)	USA-155	02:47	CCAFS, SLC-36A	Atlas IIAS	35,854 × 35,732 km × 9.3° (GSO)^[16]	Quasar 13	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-	Onyx / Vega	USA-152	23:45	VAFB, SLC-4E	Titan IVB	695 × 689 km × 68° (LEO)	Lacrosse 4	SAR	Deorbited
L-	Aquila	USA-162	02:32	CCAFS, SLC-36B	Atlas IIAS	35,803 × 35,785 km × 10.9° (GSO)^[17]	Quasar 14	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-	Gemini	USA-160	15:25	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas IIAS	1,486 × 740 km × 63.4° (LEO)^[18]	Intruder 5A & 5B^[19]	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, status unknown		Two satellites.
L-		USA-161	21:21	VAFB, SLC-4E	Titan IVB	LEO	KH-11 13	Optical reconnaissance	Deorbited		Reentered in November 2014.^[20] ^[21]
L-		USA-237	13:15^[22]	CCAFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy (first RS-68A upgrade)	35,960 × 35,628 km × 2.8° (GSO)^[23]	Orion 8^[24]	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-	Prometheus	USA-182	00:50^[25]	CCAFS, SLC-40	Titan IVB	728 × 725 km × 57.0° (LEO)^[26]	Lacrosse 5	SAR	Deorbited
L-	GeoLITE	USA-158	17:45^[27]	CCAFS, SLC-17B	Delta II 7925-9.5	GSO	GeoLITE	Technology demonstration	Retired		Boosted to graveyard orbit after end of mission.^[28] Testbed for experimental laser and UHF communications payloads.^[29]
L-	Libra	USA-173	10:04	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas IIAS	1,435 × 786 km × 63.4° (LEO)^[30]	Intruder 6A & B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, status unknown		Two satellites.
L-	Homer	USA-171	04:29^[31]	CCAFS, SLC-40	Titan IVB-Centaur	35,995 × 35,592 km × 11.4° (GSO)^[32]	Orion 5	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-		USA-186	18:05^[33]	VAFB, SLC-4E	Titan IVB	473 × 268 km × 96.9° (LEO)^[34]	KH-11 14	Optical imaging	Entered service, presumed active		Last launch of a Titan rocket.
L-		USA-193	21:00	VAFB, SLC-2W	Delta II 7920-10	LEO	Unknown	Unknown	Destroyed		Failed on orbit immediately after launch. Destroyed by ASAT on 21 February 2008.
L-		USA-184	03:33	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV M+(4,2)	38,628 × 1,740 km × 63° (Molniya)^[35]	Improved Trumpet 4^[36]	ELINT	Entered service, status unknown
L-	Canis Minor	USA-181	07:41	CCAFS, SLC-36B	Atlas IIIB	1,404 × 822 km × 63.4° (LEO)^[37]	Intruder 7A & 7B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, status unknown		Two satellites.
L-	Scorpius	USA-198	22:05	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 401	39,899 × 461 km × 63.4° (Molniya)^[38]	Quasar 16	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-	Altair	USA-234	23:12^[39] ^[40]	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV M+ (5,2)	1,112 × 1,109 km × 123° (Retrograde LEO)^[41]	Topaz 2^[42]	Radar imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-		USA-202	02:47	CCAFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy	35,814 × 35,774 km × 6.1° (GSO)^[43]	Orion 6	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-	Gryphon	USA-227	23:38	CCAFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV M+(4,2)	35,810 × 35,778 km × 4.6° (GSO)^[44]	Quasar 17	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-		USA-200	10:02	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 411	38,009 × 2,362 km × 63.2° (Molniya)^[45]	Improved Trumpet 5	ELINT	Entered service, status unknown
L-		N/A		VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 521^[46]				Canceled
L-	Pyxis	USA-194	15:12	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 401	1,347 × 879 km × 63.4° (LEO)^[47]	Intruder 8A & 8B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, presumed active		Two satellites. Premature 2nd stage cutoff during launch. Lifetime reduced by need to correct orbit.
L-		USA-223	22:58	CCAFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy	35,979 × 35,609 km × 4.6° (GSO)^[48]	Orion 7	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-^[49]		USA-252	13:09	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 401	35,810 × 35,778 km × 2.7° (GSO)^[50]	Quasar 19	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-	Odin^[51]	USA-229	04:24	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 411	1,261 × 965 km × 63.4° (LEO)^[52]	Intruder 9A & 9B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, presumed active		Two satellites.
L-	Jacquelyn	USA-259	03:19	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 541	39,083 × 1,286 km × 63.4° (Molniya)^[53]	Trumpet 6 (third generation)^[54]	ELINT	Entered service, presumed active		First flight of the RL10C-1 rocket engine, used by the Centaur upper stage
L-^[55]		USA-238^[56]	21:39	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 401	1,225 × 1,001 km × 63.4° (LEO)^[57]	Intruder 10A & 10B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, presumed active		Two satellites sharing a designation.
L-^[58]		USA-268	17:51	CCAFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy	35,993 × 35,594 km × 6.5° (GSO)^[59]	Orion 9	SIGINT^[60]	Entered service, presumed active		Likely the seventh so called Mentor/Orion satellite for the National Security Agency.^[61]
L-^[62]	Drake	USA-236	12:28	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 401	35,815 × 35,773 km × 3.1° (GSO)^[63]	Quasar 18	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-^[64]		USA-247	07:14^[65]	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 501	1,113 × 1,109 km × 123° (Retrograde LEO)^[66]	Topaz 3	Radar imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-^[67]	Gladys	USA-215	04:03^[68]	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 501	1,112 × 1,109 km × 123° (Retrograde LEO)^[69]	Topaz 1	Radar imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-^[70]		USA-278	05:49:47	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 541	39,230 × 1,138 km × 63.6° (Molniya)^[71]	Trumpet 7 (third generation)	ELINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-		USA-311	01:09	CCSFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy	35,992 × 35,596 km × 7.6° (GSO)^[72]	Orion 10	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active^[73]
L-		USA-267	11:40	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV M+(5,2)	1,115 × 1,106 km × 123° (Retrograde LEO)^[74]	Topaz 4	Radar imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-		USA-281	22:11	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV M+(5,2)	1,088 × 1,085 km × 106° (Retrograde LEO)^[75]	Topaz 5	Radar imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-	Betty^[76]	USA-224	21:10^[77]	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV Heavy	1,003 × 262 km × 97.9° (LEO)^[78]	KH-11 15	Optical imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-		USA-279	07:28	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 421	35,810 × 35,778 km × 3.2° (GSO)^[79]	Quasar 21^[80]	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-		USA-264	12:49	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 401	1,150 × 1,076 km × 63.4° (LEO)^[81] ^[82]	Intruder 11A & 11B	Naval reconnisance	Entered service, presumed active		Two classified satellites (NROL-55) and 13 CubeSats.
L-^[83]		-	NLT	CCAFS, SLC-41	Vulcan Centaur				Awaiting launch
L-	Spike^[84]	USA-269	12:37^[85]	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 421	35,808 × 35,779 km × 2.8° (GSO)^[86] ^[87]	Quasar 20	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-		-	^[88]	CCSFS, SLC-41					Awaiting launch
L-^[89]		USA-245	18:03	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV Heavy	991 × 275 km × 97.9° (LEO)^[90]	KH-11 16	Optical imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-^[91]		USA-225	12:26	VAFB, SLC-8	Minotaur I	1,232 × 1,214 km × 90.1° (LEO)^[92]	RPP	Technology	Entered service, status unknown
L-^[93]		USA-250	17:45	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 541	35,811 × 35,777 km × 1.4° (GSO)^[94]	SIGINT High Altitude Replenishment Program (SHARP-1)	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-		USA-345	09:18^[95]	CCSFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy		Orion 11	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-^[96]		-	Q1 ^[97]	KSC, LC-39A or CCSFS, SLC-40^[98]	Falcon 9 Block 5				Awaiting launch
L-		-	^[99]	CCSFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy		Orion 12	SIGINT	Entered service, status unknown		Last launch of Delta family
L-		USA-290	19:05^[100]	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV Heavy	423 × 406 km × 73.6° (LEO)^[101]	KH-11 17	Optical imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-		-	NLT	VSFB, SLC-3E	Vulcan Centaur				Awaiting launch
L-^[102]		USA-276	11:15^[103]	KSC, LC-39A	Falcon 9 Full Thrust	393 × 393 km × 50.0° (LEO)^[104] ^[105] ^[106]			Entered service, presumed active
L-		-	NLT	CCSFS or KSC	Falcon 9 Block 5				Awaiting launch
L-^[107]		USA-274	17:50^[108]	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 401	1,119 × 1,107 km × 63.4° (LEO)^[109]	Intruder 12A & 12B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, presumed active		Two classified satellites sharing a designation.
L-^[110]		USA-314	20:47^[111]	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV Heavy	794 × 535 km × 98.1° (LEO)^[112]	KH-11 18	Electro-optical surveillance	Entered service, presumed active
L-		-	^[113]	VSFB, SLC-3E					Awaiting launch
L-^[114]		USA-327	13:13	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO 63°^[115]	Intruder 13A & 13B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, presumed active
L-^[116]		USA-326	20:27^[117]	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	SSO			Entered service, presumed active
L-		USA-338	22:25^[118]	VSFB, SLC-6	Delta IV Heavy	LEO	KH-11 19	Electro-optical surveillance	Entered service, presumed active
L-^[119]		-	NLT	VSFB, SLC-3E	Vulcan Centaur				Awaiting launch
L-		USA-310	22:32^[120]	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 531	11105 × 11081 km × 58.5° (MEO)^[121]			Entered service, presumed active
L-		USA-346 USA-347 USA-348	12:47^[122]	CCSFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 551	GSO 42464 × 41864 km × 0°	Silentbarker	Situational awareness^[123]	Entered service, presumed active		Three satellites
L-^[124]		USA-312 USA-313	14:00^[125]	KSC, LC-39A	Falcon 9 Block 5	540 × 528 km × 53°(LEO)^[126]			Entered service, presumed active		Two satellites, possibly SpaceX Starshield prototypes.^[127]
L-^[128]		-	NLT	CCAFS, SLC-41	Vulcan Centaur				Awaiting launch
L-^[129]		USA-316 USA-317 USA-318	13:35 UTC	MARS, LP-0B	Minotaur I			Technology	Entered service, presumed active		Three satellites.
L-		USA-400	03:20^[130]	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO			Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 21 Starshield satellites.^[131]
L-^[132]		-	NLT	CCAFS, SLC-41	Vulcan Centaur	GSO	Silentbarker	Situational awareness	Awaiting launch
L-^[133] (RASR-5)		USA-352 MOLA Aerocube 16A Aerocube 16B	07:25 UTC	MARS, LP-0C		LEO		Technology	Entered service, presumed active		RASR-5. Four satellites. First NRO launch on an Electron from Wallops, VA.
L-		USA 438, USA 339	8:10^[134]	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO			Entered service, presumed active		-->	NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 2 Starshield satellites with 20 Starlink Group N-01 satellites..^[135]
L-^[136] ^[137]		USA-305 USA-306 USA-307 USA-308	13:46 UTC	MARS, LP-0B	Minotaur IV / Orion 38	580 × 574 km × 54.0° (LEO)^[138]			Entered service, presumed active		Four payloads. First NRO launch on a Minotaur IV and first from Virginia's Space Coast.^[139]
L-		USA-354 - USA-374	08:00^[140]	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	425 × 310 km × 69.7° LEO			Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 21 Starshield satellites.^[141]
L-^[142] ^[143] (RASR-1)	Deep Dive^[144]	USA-294^[145]	02:56^[146]	Mahia, LC-1A	Electron	594 × 586 km × 70.0° (LEO)^[147]		Technology	Entered service, presumed active		First Rocket Lab Electron launch, first launch from outside the United States (New Zealand), and first launch procured under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) program. Flew on Rocket Lab's "Birds of a Feather" mission.
L-^[148] (RASR-3)		USA-334	06:30	Mahia, LC-1A	Electron				Entered service, presumed active		RASR-3. Back-to-back launch under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) program.^[149]
L-		USA-421	17:13^[150]	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO			Entered service, presumed active		-->	NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 17 Starshield satellites.^[151]
L-^[152]		-	was,^[153] now thought to be ^[154]	VSFB, SLC-8	Minotaur IV / Orion 38				Awaiting launch
L-		USA-375 - USA-395	03:14^[155]	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO			Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 21 Starshield satellites.^[156]
L-^[157] (RASR-4)		USA-335	05:00	Mahia, LC-1B	Electron				Entered service, presumed active		RASR-4. Back-to-back launch under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) program.
RASR-2^[158] ^[159]		USA-301 USA-302 USA-303	05:12	Mahia, LC-1A	Electron				Entered service, presumed active		Three technology demonstration smallsats. Primary customer of the rideshare mission procured under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) program. Flew on Rocket Lab's "Don't Stop Me Now" mission.
Undesignated^[160]		IMPACT-2A and IMPACT-2B	13:59:47	MARS, Pad 0A	Antares			Technology demonstration	Entered service, presumed active		Two technology demonstration CubeSats launched as part of the NRO's IMPACT program. Secondary payloads, launched with Cygnus NG-12.
Launch designation	Launch name	Satellite designation	Launch date/time (UTC)	Launch site	Rocket	Orbit	Project	Function	Status	Patch	Remarks

See also

• List of USA satellites
• National Security Space Launch#Missions

External links

• https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2006/RAND_MG503.pdf National Security Space Launch Report (pages 112)

Notes and References

1. http://www.sworld.com.au/steven/space/usmil-rec.txt Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive – US Military Launch Record
2. https://web.archive.org/web/20020501080034/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/atlsiias.htm Encyclopedia Astronautica – Atlas IIAS
3. Web site: USA 179 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
4. Web site: SDS-3 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 . Krebs . Gunter . 4 February 2020 . space.skyrocket.de . 11 December 2020.
5. Web site: KH-11 / Kennen / Crystal. Gunter's Space Page. 1 December 2020. 11 December 2020.
6. Web site: USA 224 recovered, USA 186 still drifting, and looking for GPS IIF-6 20 minutes after launch. SatTrackCam. 2014-05-21. 2016-05-13.
7. Web site: Space Activities in 2014. Jonathan's Space Report. 19 December 2020.
8. Web site: Lacrosse 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Gunter's Space Page. 14 August 2020 . 11 December 2020.
9. Web site: USA 136. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
10. Web site: Trumpet 1, 2, 3. Gunter's Space Page. 19 March 2020. 11 December 2020.
11. http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=11127.30 NRO codenames
12. Web site: USA 139. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
13. Web site: Orion 3, 4. Gunter's Space Page. 25 November 2020. 11 December 2020.
14. Web site: National Reconnaissance Office Satellite Destroyed 29 August 1998. 11 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221130626/http://www.nro.gov/news/press/1998/1998-08.pdf. 21 December 2016. dead.
15. http://www.nro.gov/PressReleases/prs_rel29.html National Reconnaissance Satellite Successfully Launched May 22, 1999
16. Web site: USA 155. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
17. Web site: USA 162. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
18. Web site: USA 160. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
19. Web site: Intruder 5, ..., 12 (NOSS-3 1, ..., 8). Gunter's Space Page. 4 November 2020. 11 December 2020.
20. Web site: USA 224 recovered: an update of the KH-11 constellation. SatTrackCam. 30 June 2016. 11 February 2019.
21. Web site: Space Activities in 2015. Jonathan's Space Report. 19 December 2020.
22. Web site: Launch of Delta IV Heavy with NROL-15 Payload. Space Videos. June 29, 2012. YouTube.
23. Web site: USA 237. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
24. Web site: Orion 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Gunter's Space Report. 11 December 2020. 11 December 2020.
25. http://www.nro.gov/PressReleases/prs_rel82.html NRO Successfully Launches Last Titan from Cape Canaveral April 29, 2005
26. Web site: USA 182. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
27. http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/dela7000.htm Encyclopedia Astronautica – Delta 7000
28. Web site: USA 158. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
29. Web site: GeoLITE. Gunter's Space Page. 19 December 2020.
30. Web site: USA 173. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
31. http://www.nro.gov/PressReleases/prs_rel73.html NRO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES PAYLOAD FROM TITAN IV September 10, 2003
32. Web site: USA 171. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
33. http://www.nro.gov/PressReleases/prs_rel86.html NRO Payload Takes Last Ride Aboard Titan IV October 20, 2005
34. Web site: USA 186. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
35. Web site: USA 184. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
36. Web site: Trumpet 4, 5 / SBIRS HEO-1, 2. Gunter's Space Page. 4 November 2020. 11 December 2020.
37. Web site: USA 181. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
38. Web site: USA 198. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
39. Web site: Delta Launch Report – Mission Status Center. Spaceflight Now.
40. Web site: Launch schedule. Spaceflight Now. February 3, 2012.
41. Web site: USA 234. N2YO.com. 11 December 2020.
42. Web site: Topaz 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Gunter's Space Page. 4 February 2020 . 11 December 2020.
43. Web site: USA 202 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
44. Web site: USA 227 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
45. Web site: USA 200 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
46. Web site: ILS Atlas Adds NRO Mission to West Coast Launch Manifest | Commercial Space Watch. 2012-03-24. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023059/http://www.comspacewatch.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=16796. March 4, 2016.
47. Web site: USA 194 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
48. Web site: USA 223 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
49. Web site: Archived copy. 2012-03-25. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130217143032/http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/MissionData.php?mission=NROL-33. February 17, 2013.
50. Web site: USA 252 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
51. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/16/

    United Launch Alliance, LLC ::::

52. Web site: USA 229 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
53. Web site: USA 259 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
54. Web site: Trumpet 6, 7 / SBIRS HEO-3, 4 . Krebs . Gunter . 4 November 2020 . space.skyrocket.de . 11 December 2020.
55. Web site: Technical details for satellite USA 238. N2yo.
56. Web site: NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details. NASA.
57. Web site: USA 238 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
58. Web site: Triple-barrel Delta 4-Heavy launches national security satellite. Spaceflight Now. 11 June 2016. 12 June 2016.
59. Web site: USA 268 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
60. News: Surveillance satellite launching Thursday atop Delta 4-Heavy rocket. Spaceflight Now. Justin. Ray. June 7, 2016.
61. Web site: NROL launches . Gunter's Space Page. Gunter. Krebs. 2016-12-08.
62. Web site: Archived copy. 2012-03-22. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111015023151/http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/MissionData.php?mission=NROL-38. October 15, 2011.
63. Web site: USA 236 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
64. Web site: Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) . Federal Business Opportunities.
65. http://www.nro.gov/news/press/2013/2013-04.pdf NRO Press Release 2013-04
66. Web site: USA 247 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
67. Web site: Launch schedule. Spaceflight Now. 15 September 2011.
68. Web site: Atlas Launch Report. Spaceflight Now. 15 September 2011.
69. Web site: USA 215 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
70. Web site: 2016 manifest preview: United Launch Alliance's busy year ahead. Spaceflight Now. 20 April 2015. 24 April 2015.
71. Web site: USA 278 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
72. Web site: USA 311 . N2YO.com . 3 June 2021.
73. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-44 Mission to Support National Security . ULA Launch . 11 December 2020.
74. Web site: USA 267 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
75. Web site: USA 281 . N2YO.com . 11 December 2020.
76. Web site: Re: NROL codenames. nasaspaceflight.com. 2011-01-22.
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129. Web site: Northrop Grumman Successfully Launches Minotaur I Rocket for the National Reconnaissance Office . . 15 June 2021 . 16 June 2021.
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148. Web site: Kanayama . Lee . Rocket Lab launches first of two back-to-back missions for NRO . . 13 July 2022 . 13 July 2022.
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152. Web site: Clark . Stephen . NRO satellites launched by Minotaur rocket with surplus missile parts . Spaceflight Now . 15 June 2021 . 16 June 2021 . [T]he Space Force and the NRO have purchased at least one more Minotaur flight to deliver another classified payload to orbit. That mission, known as NROL-174, will use a Minotaur 4 rocket, the larger Minotaur variant. It is scheduled for launch in 2023, Eberly said. A launch site for the NROL-174 mission has not been confirmed..
153. Web site: Minotaur IV - NROL-174 . 22 December 2023 . Next Spaceflight.
154. Web site: Minotaur IV - NROL-174 . 26 September 2024 . The Launch Pad Network.
155. Web site: Falcon 9 Block 5 - NROL-186 . 28 June 2024 . Next Spaceflight.
156. Web site: Berger . Eric . 2024-04-18 . SpaceX and Northrop are working on a constellation of spy satellites . 2024-05-14 . Ars Technica . en-us.
157. Web site: Navin . Joseph . Rocket Lab's Electron launches NROL-199 . 4 August 2022 . 4 August 2022 . NASASpaceFlight.
158. Web site: NRO launches second mission of 2020 with Rocket Lab. 2020-07-02. National Reconnaissance Office.
159. Web site: Don't Stop Me Now. Rocket Lab. 16 June 2020.
160. Web site: NRO launches two IMPACT small satellites as rideshare on NG-12. 2020-07-10. National Reconnaissance Office.