NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

NOSS-3 7A & 7B (USA-264) (NROL-55)

Launch Time
Thu Oct 08, 2015 12:49 UTC

Rocket

Atlas V 401
Image Credit: ULA
ULA
Status: Retired
Price: $109.0 million
Liftoff Thrust: 3,826 kN
Payload to LEO: 9,797 kg
Payload to GTO: 4,750 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 58.3 m
Fairing Diameter: 4.2 m
Fairing Height: 13.8 m

Mission Details

NOSS-3 7A & 7B (USA-264) (NROL-55)

NOSS-3 (Naval Ocean Surveillance System), which is likely not the official designation, is the third generation of NOSS satellites, which are low orbit SIGINT satellites. In 2013, the designation Intruder leaked out. These satellites carry equipment to track ships and aircraft via their radio transmissions. Positions of the origin of the transmissions are determined by triangulation. Each launch consists of two satellites of similar size in the same orbit. Both satellites maneuver to stationkeep relative to one another.

Payloads: 2

Location

SLC-3E, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Stats

2015

61st orbital launch attempt

United Launch Alliance

101st mission
10th mission of 2015
100th successful mission
96th consecutive successful mission

Atlas V

58th mission
7th mission of 2015
57th successful mission
48th consecutive successful mission