Lockheed Martin NROL-13 Atlas IIAS
About the NROL-13 (Intruder 5A & 5B) Mission
- Type: Government/Top Secret
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
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.
This classified mission is operated by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the U.S. government agency responsible for designing, building, and operating reconnaissance satellites. NRO missions support national security by providing critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities from space.
Understand National Reconnaissance Office satellite missions
Launch Pad & Location
Space Launch Complex 3E
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
The Space Launch Complex 3E launch pad has hosted 48 rocket launches, including 45 orbital launch attempts. The Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA launch site has been the location for 887 total rocket launches.
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.
Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS Rocket
Atlas II was a member of the Atlas family of launch vehicles, which evolved from the successful Atlas missile program of the 1950s. It was designed to launch payloads into low earth orbit, geosynchronous transfer orbit or geosynchronous orbit. Sixty-three launches of the Atlas II, IIA and IIAS models were carried out between 1991 and 2004; all sixty-three launches were successes, making the Atlas II the most reliable launch system in history.
About Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin's Space Division started in the production of missiles and later ICBM's in the 1950s. Their TITAN missile system was used for 12 Gemini spacecraft and the Voyager probes. They have worked largely in collaboration with NASA on many of their probes, landers, and spacecraft, and hope to play a key role in NASA's return to the moon in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS NROL-13 (Intruder 5A & 5B) launch scheduled?
The Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS NROL-13 (Intruder 5A & 5B) launch was scheduled for:
.
Where did the Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS NROL-13 (Intruder 5A & 5B) mission launch from?
The Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 3E at 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.
What rocket was used for the NROL-13 (Intruder 5A & 5B) mission?
The NROL-13 (Intruder 5A & 5B) mission launched aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS rocket. Atlas II was a member of the Atlas family of launch vehicles, which evolved from the successful Atlas missile program of the 1950s. It was designed to launch payloads into low earth orbit, geosynchronous transfer orbit or geosynchronous orbit. Sixty-three launches of the Atlas II, IIA and IIAS models were carried out between 1991 and 2004; all sixty-three launches were successes, making the Atlas II the most reliable launch system in history. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
What weather conditions could have delayed the Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS NROL-13 (Intruder 5A & 5B) launch?
The Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS NROL-13 (Intruder 5A & 5B) launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS NROL-13 (Intruder 5A & 5B) launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the NROL-13 (Intruder 5A & 5B) mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official Lockheed Martin live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.