Success
NROL-55 (Multipayload mission)
Government/Top Secret
United Launch Alliance(ULA)CommercialAtlas V 401
LEOorbit
Classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.
Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 12:49 PM
Replay
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#5,503
ULA Mission
#102
Pad Launch
#42
Location Launch
#662
Designator
2015-058
Launch Window
NET
Oct 8, 2015, 12:49 PM
Schedule Changes
1 update
Lift Off
12:00 PM
Window Open
4:00 PM
Window Close
Atlas V 401 Specs
An Atlas V with a 4 meter diameter fairing, no boosters and a single centaur upper stage engine.
Length
58.3 m
Diameter
3.8 m
Launch Mass
590 t
Thrust
3,827 kN
LEO Capacity
9,050 kg
GTO Capacity
4,950 kg
SSO Capacity
6,670 kg
Launch Cost
$115M
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
2002
Fastest Turnaround
11d 15h
Total Launches
41
Successful
41
Failed
0
Consecutive Success
41
Maiden flight: Aug 21, 2002
Space Launch Complex 3E
SLC-3E is a launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base. It was originally built for the MIDAS program and later used for various other missions. After a period of inactivity, it was refurbished in the early 2000s to launch Atlas V rockets. The pad is now being upgraded to accommodate the new Vulcan Centaur rocket. The last Atlas V launch from SLC-3E happened in November 2022, with the first Vulcan launch expected in 2025.
Total Launches
48
Orbital Attempts
45
Fastest Turnaround
1mo 2d
United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.
Founded
2006
Administrator
Interim CEO: John Elbon
Total Launches
173
Successful
173
Failed
0
Pending
38
Consecutive Success
173
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
Local Launch Time
Oct 8, 2015, 5:49 AM
Total Launches
885
Total Landings
34
Coordinates
34.7513, -120.5202