List of NRO launches


This is a list of NRO Launch designations, i.e. 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 vehicle families

Launch sites

Launch history

Launch
designation		Payload
nickname		Satellite
designation		Date/Time Launch siteRocketOrbitProjectFunctionStatusPatchRemarks
L-1NemesisUSA-179
23:17		CCAFS, SLC-36AAtlas IIASMolniyaQuasarCommunicationsActive
L-2USA-129
18:04		VAFB, SLC-4ETitan IVLEOKH-11Optical imagingReentered April 24, 2014
L-3USA-133
02:32		VAFB, SLC-4ETitan IVLEOLacrosseELINTActive
L-4OscarUSA-136
02:05		CCAFS, SLC-41Titan IV/CentaurMolniyaTrumpetELINTActive
L-5CapricornUSA-137
18:37		CCAFS, SLC-36AAtlas IIAMolniyaQuasarCommunicationsActive
L-6JackUSA-139
01:38		CCAFS, SLC-40Titan IV/CentaurGSOOrionELINT
L-7ElwoodN/A
11:30		CCAFS, SLC-41Titan IV/CentaurGSO MercuryELINTDestroyedRocket self-destructed 40 seconds into launch due to guidance problem.
L-8USA-140, USA-141
10:04		VAFB, LC-576ETaurus 1110LEOSTEXTechnologyATEX experiment jettisoned on 1999-01-16 and catalogued as USA-141.
L-9USA-144
09:36		VAFB, SLC-4ETitan IVBMistyOptical imagingFirst Titan IV-B launch from VAFB.
L-10Ursa Major
USA-155
02:47		CCAFS, SLC-36AAtlas IIASGSOQuasarCommunicationsActive
L-11Onyx / VegaUSA-152
23:45		VAFB, SLC-4ETitan IVBLEOLacrosseRadar imagingActive
L-12AquilaUSA-162
02:32		CCAFS, SLC-36BAtlas IIASGSOQuasarCommunicationsActive
L-13GeminiUSA-160
15:25		VAFB, SLC-3EAtlas IIASLEOIntruderNaval reconnaissanceActiveTwo satellites.
L-14USA-161
21:21		VAFB, SLC-4ETitan IVBLEOKH-11Optical reconnaissanceReentered late 2014.
L-15USA-237
13:15		CCAFS, SLC-37BDelta IV Heavy
GSOMentor *ELINTActive* or follow-on.
L-16PrometheusUSA-182
00:50		CCAFS, SLC-40Titan IVBLEOLacrosseRadar imagingActive
L-17GeoLITEUSA-158
17:45		CCAFS, SLC-17BDelta II 7925-9.5GSOGeoLITETechnology demonstrationActive
L-18LibraUSA-173
10:04		VAFB, SLC-3EAtlas IIASLEOIntruderNaval reconnaissanceActiveTwo satellites.
L-19HomerUSA-171
04:29		CCAFS, SLC-40Titan IVB-CentaurGSOOrionELINTActive
L-20USA-186
18:05		VAFB, SLC-4ETitan IVBLEOKH-11Optical imagingActiveLast launch of a Titan rocket.
L-21USA-193
21:00		VAFB, SLC-2WDelta II 7920-10LEOUnknownUnknownFailed; intentionally destroyed in 2008.Failed immediately after launch. Destroyed by ASAT on 21 February 2008.
L-22USA-184
03:33		VAFB, SLC-6Delta IV M+MolniyaImproved TrumpetELINTActive
L-23Canis MinorUSA-181
07:41		CCAFS, SLC-36BAtlas IIIBLEOIntruderNaval reconnaissanceActiveTwo satellites.
L-24ScorpiusUSA-198
22:05		CCAFS, SLC-41Atlas V 401MolniyaQuasarCommunicationsActive
L-25AltairUSA-234
23:12		VAFB, SLC-6Delta IV M+Retrograde LEOTopazRadar imagingActive
L-26USA-202
02:47		CCAFS, SLC-37BDelta IV HeavyGSOOrionELINTActive
L-27GryphonUSA-227
23:38		CCAFS, SLC-37BDelta IV M+GSOQuasarCommunicationsActive
L-28USA-200
10:02		VAFB, SLC-3EAtlas V 411MolniyaImproved TrumpetELINTActive
L-29N/AVAFB, SLC-3EAtlas V 521Canceled
L-30PyxisUSA-194
15:12		CCAFS, SLC-41Atlas V 401LEOIntruderNaval reconnaissanceActiveTwo satellites.
Premature 2nd stage cutoff during launch. Lifetime reduced by need to correct orbit.
L-32USA-223
22:58		CCAFS, SLC-37BDelta IV HeavyGSOOrionELINTOperational
L-33USA-252
13:09		CCAFS, SLC-41Atlas V 401GSOQuasarCommunicationsActive
L-34OdinUSA-229
04:24		VAFB, SLC-3EAtlas V 411LEOIntruderNaval SIGINTOperationalTwo satellites
L-35JacquelynUSA-259
03:19		VAFB, SLC-3EAtlas V 541MolniyaTrumpet ELINTActiveFirst flight of the RL10C-1 rocket engine, used by the Centaur upper stage
L-36USA-238
21:39		VAFB, SLC-3EAtlas V 401LEOIntruderSIGINTLaunched
Two satellites sharing a designation
L-37USA-268
17:51		CCAFS, SLC-37BDelta IV HeavyGSOOrionSIGINTLaunchedLikely the seventh so called Mentor/Orion satellite for the National Security Agency.
L-38DrakeUSA-236
12:28		CCAFS, SLC-41Atlas V 401GSOQuasarCommunicationsActive
L-39USA-247
07:14		VAFB, SLC-3EAtlas V 501LEOTopazRadar imagingActive
L-41GladysUSA-215
04:03		VAFB, SLC-3EAtlas V 501LEO 1058 × 1072 kmTopazRadar imagingOperational
L-42USA-278 05:49:47VAFB, SLC-3EAtlas V 541MolniyaTrumpet ELINTLaunched
L-44-CCAFS, SLC-37BDelta IV HeavyGSOOrionSIGINTAwaiting launch
L-45USA-267 11:40VAFB, SLC-6Delta IV M+LEO 1084 x 1086 km x 123°TopazRadar imagingLaunched
L-47USA-281 22:11VAFB, SLC-6Delta IV M+LEO TopazRadar imagingLaunched
L-49BettyUSA-224
21:10		VAFB, SLC-6Delta IV HeavyLEO 239 x 1005 kmKH-11Optical imagingOperational
L-52USA-279 07:28CCAFS, SLC-41Atlas V 421GSOQuasar 21CommunicationsLaunched
L-55USA-264
12:49		VAFB, SLC-3EAtlas V 401LEO 1000 x 1200 km x 63.4°IntruderNaval SIGINT ELINTLaunchedTwo classified satellites and 13 cubesats.
L-61SpikeUSA-269
12:37		CCAFS, SLC-41Atlas V 421GSOQuasar 20CommunicationsLaunched
L-65USA-245
18:03		VAFB, SLC-6Delta IV HeavyLEOKH-11Optical imagingLaunched
L-66USA-225
12:26		VAFB, SLC-8Minotaur ILEORPPTechnologyOperational
L-67USA-250
17:45		CCAFS, SLC-41Atlas V 541Launched
L-68-2023CCAFS, SLC-37BDelta IV HeavyAwaiting launch
L-70-CCAFS, SLC-37BDelta IV HeavyAwaiting launch
L-71USA-290
19:05		VAFB, SLC-6Delta IV HeavyLEOKH-11Optical imagingLaunched
L-76USA-276
11:15		KSC, LC-39AFalcon 9 Full ThrustLEOLaunched
L-79USA-274
17:50		VAFB, SLC-3EAtlas V 401LEOIntruder 8Naval reconnaissanceLaunchedTwo classified satellites sharing a designation
L-82-Q4 2020VAFB, SLC-6Delta IV HeavyElectro-optical surveillanceAwaiting launch
L-85-CC, 39A or 40Falcon 9 Block 5LEO 63°IntruderNaval reconnaissanceAwaiting launch
L-87-VAFB, SLC-4EFalcon 9 Block 5SSOAwaiting launch
L-91-H2 2022VAFB, SLC-6Delta IV HeavyAwaiting launch
L-101-CCAFS, SLC-41Atlas V 531Awaiting launch
L-107-CCAFS, SLC-41Atlas V 551GSO 42464 x 41864 km x 0°Silent BarkerSituational AwarenessAwaiting launch
L-111-Early 2021MARS, LP-0BMinotaur ITechnologyAwaiting Launch
L-129-,
13:46 UTC		MARS, LP-0BMinotaur IV / Orion 38Launched
Four payloads. First NRO launch on a Minotaur IV and first from Virginia's Space Coast.
L-151
USA-294
02:56		Mahia, LC-1AElectronLEOTechnologyLaunchedFirst Rocket Lab Electron launch, first launch from outside the United States, and first launch procured under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket program. Flew on Rocket Lab's "Birds of a Feather" mission.
RASR-2USA-301
USA-302
USA-303
05:12		Mahia, LC-1AElectronLaunchedThree technology demonstration smallsats. Primary customer of the rideshare mission procured under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket program. Flew on Rocket Lab's "Don't Stop Me Now" mission.
UndesignatedIMPACT-2A
IMPACT-2B		2 November 2019
13:59:47		M.A.R.S.
Pad 0A		AntaresTechnology DemonstrationLaunchedTwo technology demonstration cubesats launched as part of the NRO's IMPACT program. Secondary payloads, launched with Cygnus NG-12.
TBD-Late Spring 2021Mahia, LC-1AElectronAwaiting LaunchBack-to-back launch under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket program.
TBD-Late Spring 2021Mahia, LC-1BElectronAwaiting LaunchBack-to-back launch under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket program.
L-174-Late 2021MARS, LP-0BMinotaur IV / Orion 38Awaiting launch
Launch
Designation		Launch NameSatellite
Designation		Launch
Date/Time 		Launch SiteRocketOrbitProjectFunctionStatusPatchRemarks