NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Partial Failure

NOSS-3 4A & 4B (USA-194) (NROL-30)

Launch Time
Fri Jun 15, 2007 15:12 UTC

Premature cutoff of the Centaur upper stage left both satellites in lower than intended orbits, but they were able to recover using their own power.

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 4A & 4B (USA-194) (NROL-30)

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-41, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

2007

29th orbital launch attempt

United Launch Alliance

5th mission
4th mission of 2007

Atlas V

10th mission
2nd mission of 2007