US spy agency undertakes 'critical national security launch'

[TruthSeeker]

US spy agency undertakes 'critical national security launch'

By Clara Moskowitz, Space.com / June 20, 2012

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launches the classified NROL-38 spy satellite into orbit from Space Launch Complex-41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Wednesday. Liftoff occurred at 8:28 a.m. EDT.

A new U.S. spy satellite launched into orbit Wednesday (June 20), kicking off a clandestine national security mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

The NROL-38 reconnaissance spacecraft lifted off at 8:28 a.m. EDT (1228 GMT) from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket. It marked a milestone flight for the rocket company, a partnership between Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

"Congratulations to the NRO and to all the mission partners involved in this critical national security launch," Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president for Mission Operations, said in a statement. "This launch marks an important milestone as we celebrate the 50th successful Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) mission, with 31 Atlas 5 and 19 Delta 4 missions flown since August 2002."

The Chantilly, Va.-based NRO manages the design, construction and operation of the United States' network of intelligence-gathering spy satellites.

ULA officials broadcast the initial liftoff of the Atlas 5 rocket and spy satellite live via satellite and webcast, but cut off the video stream several minutes after launch due to the classified nature of the mission. [Spy Satellite NROL-38 Launch Pictures]

The NROL-38 mission will contribute toward the military's national defense program, though the details of how will be kept under wraps. Few specifics of the satellite's deign and purpose are publicly available, and the mission went into a media blackout shortly after liftoff.

The launch comes just days after the end of another secret government mission, the second flight of the Air Force's classified X-37B space plane.

The robotic vehicle, also known as Orbital Test Vehicle-2 (OTV-2), landed June 16 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base, ending a 15-month mission kept largely confidential.

Today's mission is the first of three NRO launches on ULA vehicles planned for the next two months. Next in line is the NROL-15 mission due to launch on a Delta 4 rocket June 28 from Space Launch Complex-37, also at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

"Twelve of the 50 EELV launches have been NRO missions and these have been vital to our overall mission of delivering on commitments critical to our national security," said Bruce Carlson, director of the National Reconnaissance Office. "I thank and congratulate ULA and the EELV program for the tremendous performance and achievement of this very impressive and noteworthy milestone."

The Atlas 5 rocket that launched today stands 191.2 feet (58.3 meters) tall and includes one main booster powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine. Its Centaur upper stage was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10A-4 engine.

 

[KRAIT]

Too many secret projects...Something is cooking.....hmmmm

 

[illusion8]

Too many secret projects...Something is cooking.....hmmmm

What do you mean?
Though US citizens are opposing drone monitoring on them.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Too many secret projects...Something is cooking.....hmmmm

Actually this is pretty routine for the USA technical intelligence services. I don't think it portends any special initiatives. If the Obama administration has any pre-election national security "surprises" up its sleeve, to gin up support before the November voting, it would probably involve some new actions against the Haqqanis in North Waziristan, or maybe going after Mullah Omar in Quetta .....

I do wonder what all those CIA resources that were devoted to finding bin Laden are up to now ....

 

[KRAIT]

What do you mean?
Though US citizens are opposing drone monitoring on them.

It doesn't matter what their citizens think. In security of nation, few things are kept at utmost secrecy. And you can't fathom what are capable of and what they might have developed to spy on their new enemy China.

 

[TruthSeeker]

And you can't fathom what are capable of and what they might have developed to spy on their new enemy China.

China is not our enemy. Iran is our #1 enemy. After the jihadis the world over, of course.

 

[KRAIT]

China is not our enemy. Iran is our #1 enemy. After the jihadis the world over, of course.

Fine, but you want to spy on China more than anything....you have to admit.

 

[Thomas]

Fine, but you want to spy on China more than anything....you have to admit.

All major countries spy on each to some degree even if they are considered allies.

 

[BlueDot_in_Space]

Too many secret projects...Something is cooking.....hmmmm

american khichdee

 

[TruthSeeker]

Secret military satellite heads into space

Running two days late, a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket blasts off on a classified military mission -- the second of four planned this year by the secretive National Reconnaissance Office.

by William Harwood June 20, 2012 7:34 AM PDT

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office satellite blasted off today, creating a dramatic sky show as it boosted its secret payload into orbit.

Running two days late because of work to fix an environmental control system duct, the 188-foot-tall Atlas 5 roared to life at 8:28 a.m. EDT and climbed away from launch complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, trailing a brilliant plume of flame from its Russian-designed RD-180 first-stage engine. Without any strap-on solid-fuel boosters, the initial climb out appeared relatively sedate compared with more powerful variants in the Atlas family, but the rocket quickly accelerated as it consumed propellant at 1,500 pounds per second, arcing away to the East into the glare of the morning sun.

United Launch Alliance commentary continued through ignition of the rocket's single Centaur second stage engine. There were no apparent problems during the first four-and-a-half minutes of flight but as usual with classified missions, commentary ended just after the nose cone fairing was jettisoned, well before the NROL-38 payload reached orbit.

In a post-launch statement, the NRO called the mission a success, indicating the payload made it to its planned preliminary orbit.
"This morning's flawless launch is the product of many months of hard work and collaboration of government and industry teams," Col. James Fisher, director of NRO's Office of Space Launch, said in the statement. "We hit it out of the park again as we continue to deliver superior vigilance from above for the nation."

It was the company's fifth launch so far this year, the 31st for a Lockheed Martin-designed Atlas 5 and the second of four missions planned in 2012 by the National Reconnaissance Office, which is responsible for the nation's fleet of spy satellites.

Secret military satellite heads into space | Cutting Edge - CNET News

 

[Bratva]

Actually this is pretty routine for the USA technical intelligence services. I don't think it portends any special initiatives. If the Obama administration has any pre-election national security "surprises" up its sleeve, to gin up support before the November voting, it would probably involve some new actions against the Haqqanis in North Waziristan, or maybe going after Mullah Omar in Quetta .....

I do wonder what all those CIA resources that were devoted to finding bin Laden are up to now ....

So what happen to 70 percent area of afghanistan which is under Afghan taliban, why they are not hiding there?? last time Haqqani gave interview to a journalist at a secret location, it was in Afghanistan... May be getting your priorities straight will help you guys alot