Atlas IIA — mission imagery
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Success

NROL-5 (Quasar 12)

Atlas IIALockheed MartinLaunch Complex 36A
Thursday, January 29, 1998 · 06:37 PM UTCAdd to Calendar

This mission is complete.

Vehicle

Atlas IIA

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Atlas V is an expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. It was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin and is now operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture with...

Height59.7 m
LEO Payload18,850 kg
Launches80
Successes77

Provider

Lockheed Martin

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Provider details are not available yet.

Mission Brief

Satellite Data System (SDS) spacecraft are communication relay satellites for transmitting real-time data from US reconnaissance satellites (e.g. KH-11, Onyx, Topaz) in polar areas. They are also used for communications to USAF aircraft on polar routes and connect the various ground stations of the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN). The spacecraft relay the downlinked data to a ground station at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

PayloadNROL-5 (Quasar 12)
OrbitElliptical Orbit
CustomerLockheed Martin
Stages2
PadLaunch Complex 36A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Mission Timeline

14 / 14100%
Site lock

Launch Site

Launch Complex 36A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

LAUNCH SITE
28.471°N, 80.542°W

Schedule History

No delays or schedule changes recorded.