Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
06:48:00
Tuesday April 24, 2007
Watch Replay
Official Livestream
The Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE) is a satellite which was proposed and developed by the Missile Defense Agency, a division of the United States Department of Defense. Though primarily designed to gather data on exhaust plumes from rockets, the satellite was also intended to contain a kill vehicle similar to kinds intended for the Strategic Defense Initiative. A missile was then to be fired at and nearly miss the instrumented kill vehicle. This feature was later removed.
Low Earth Orbit
1 Payload
494 kilograms
Agency
NorthropPrice
$40.00 million
Rocket
Height: 19.21m
Payload to Orbit
LEO: 580 kg
Liftoff Thrust
935 Kilonewtons
Fairing
Diameter: 1.27m
Height: 3.79m
Stages
4
7th
Mission
1st
Mission of 2007
16th
Orbital launch attempt