US launches reconnaissance satellites into orbit for the National Directorate of Military Space Intelligence

The United States has launched three new reconnaissance satellites into orbit for the United States National Aerospace Intelligence Agency (NRO). The launch of the launch vehicle was broadcast by NASA.

The Minotaur I launch vehicle took off from the LP-0B launch pad of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Cosmodrome on Wallops Island in Virginia at 09.35 US East Coast time (16.35 Moscow time). The rocket is to launch three NROL-111 reconnaissance satellites into orbit. There are no details about the characteristics and detailed information about the purpose due to the secrecy of the project. By the way, in connection with this, the broadcast of the launch lasted only 2 minutes and was interrupted.

According to some specialized publications, the United States launched satellites into space for a network of "ultra-protected and protected from electromagnetic radiation" of the AEHF relay communications satellites.

The US National Aerospace Intelligence Administration (NRO) explained that this launch was the second in the interests of the service in the past 12 months.

(...) the NROL-111 mission will help protect the United States and its allies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

- said in the message of the NRO.

The solid-propellant four-stage Minotaur I launch vehicle is developed on the basis of the sustainer stages of the Minuteman and Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles commissioned by the US Air Force. Developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman). Designed for launching small spacecraft into low-earth orbit. The first rocket launch took place on January 27, 2000.

Comments

[Cananecat]

the NROL-111 mission will help protect the United States and its allies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Leap year vulnerability ... not? ))
Past the news:
Gulrypshsky District Court of Abkhazia sentenced the Hero of the DPR to the commander of the "Pyatnashka" detachment Akhra Avidzba.

Akhru Avidzba was sentenced to three years probation, and also fined 10 thousand rubles. His associates were completely acquitted. The court released everyone in the courtroom.
Based on materials from https://eadaily.com/ru/

[hrych]

Quote: Canecat

Gulrypshsky District Court of Abkhazia

Astro-Abkhazians?

[sabakina]

Quote: hrych

Quote: Canecat

Gulrypshsky District Court of Abkhazia

Astro-Abkhazians?

Yeah, at the edge of the universe ...

[slipped]

Quote: sabakina

Yeah, at the edge of the universe ...

Frontier "Sukhum". Gulrypsh sector. Starbase "Apsny-1".

[donavi49]

Quite a rare launch of a converted ICBM.
In general, these two weeks from June 13 are perhaps the most saturated with cosmic exoticism in 5-10 years. :
On June 13, the Americans shot themselves with Pegasus from the ground. They get the old woman out before finally writing it off.

today Minotaur

the day after tomorrow teikunauts fly, for the first time since 2016.

then LauncherOne flies

then Bezos jumps with brother and lottery winner


The Fireflies and Chinese privateers LandSpace with their first launch of a 260 ton rocket is still in question.

[eklmn]

.. the Americans have shot from the ground with Pegasus. They get the old woman out before finally writing it off.

I do not think that the Americans will abandon Pegasus - it is very convenient to throw light satellites into low orbit in the shortest possible time!
Two days ago, Pegasus launched a completely new satellite:
“When I challenged the Space and Rocket Systems Center about a year ago to demonstrate a response capability in space, they accepted and completed the mission,” Space Operations Chief General John Raymond said in a statement. “The team has unveiled an integrated satellite for monitoring from space, ready to launch in record time,” he said. "What usually took two to five years took 11 months."
This was the 45th launch of the Pegasus solid fuel engine. Northrop Grumman said Pegasus has launched more than 90 satellites into low-earth orbit from five launch sites in the US, Europe and the Marshall Islands.

[donavi49]

Airplane - extended flight, through extended flight.
The rocket is very expensive.
After the death of Orbital, only the reserves for 3-5 missiles are probably used.
The Pegasus launch program as a whole ended in 2013.Since that time, 3 launches have been made.
The price is 55-60 million for the start-up and is growing due to the problematic carrier and the piece production of components for dosage. This is practically the price of Falcon9. Or 5 Electrons.

Astra is on its way - sooner or later it will begin to fly normally and LauncherOne itself, which Pegasus does at the cost, capabilities and carrier.

[Lisiy Prapor]

If they had a robot "Fedya", they would launch it, and so they have to deal with "spiritless and unrestrained" all kinds of xepHёy. sarcasm sign

[Yuriy71]

Have you gone to the RD-180?

[Nemestnyi]

Quote: Yuriy71

Have you gone to the RD-180?

Try reading the article.
She is very short.