Atlas V 401 lifts off with classified NROL-38 Payload

June 20, 2012
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Photo: United Launch Alliance
__ A United Launch Alliance Atlas V Rocket in its 401 Configuration blasted off from Space Launch complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, on a mission to deliver the classified NROL-38 Payload to orbit for the US National Reconnaissance Office. Launch occurred at the opening of the 59-minute launch window at 12:28 GMT on Wednesday, June 20.
Countdown procedures started on Monday at 5:28 GMT – 7 hours before liftoff. The Atlas V Vehicle was powered up and extensive vehicle tests began to make sure the rocket was in proper condition for flight. After completing vehicle and pad close-outs, engineers departed the Launch Complex and cleared the Blast Danger Area to set the stage for the complex fueling process. Roadblocks were set up to make sure nobody was entering the area. Also, the Launch Hazard Area became active and was monitored by Air Force Range Controllers at the Morell Operations Center, providing a clear range for the Rocket on its way to depart the Space Coast. Fueling got underway just after countdown clocks started ticking again coming out of a 30-minute built-in hold at the T-2-Hour mark.
The complex propellant loading process started with Transfer Lines Chilldown and Atlas/Centaur Tank Chilldown before propellants started actually flowing inside the Vehicle’s tanks. Liquid Oxygen Loading of the Centaur Upper Stage began at L-1:53 and was followed by Common Core Booster LOX Tanking at L-1 Hour and 40 Minutes. To fill the tanks with Oxidizer, the vehicle went through slow fill mode before transitioning to fast-fill and eventually reaching the topping phase when tanks reached the 95% mark. Atlas Booster Topping began while the Upper Stage had reached its LOX Flight Level well before that.
_Centaur Hydrogen Loading started at L-90 Minutes and also went through the nominal steps. During tanking, no problems were reported and the 90-minute process was finished as expected. The first stage of the Vehicle was filled with Rocket Propellant 1 which is highly refined Kerosene, during nominal Atlas launch preparations ahead of the countdown. Before and during fueling, the Atlas V underwent extensive checkouts. The electrical system was thoroughly checked and communication checks were performed by the launch team that also activated and tested the Rocket’s Flight Termination System. The hydraulic system of the vehicle was pressurized and checked and the RD-180 first stage engine as well as the RL-10 second stage engine were put through a steering profile. At L-40 minutes, the Fueling Process concluded and a final round of vehicle testing started. These tests included Flight Termination System checks to make sure the system was ready to destroy the launcher in the unlikely event of a major malfunction. 
_At T-4 Minutes, countdown clocks stopped once again for the final built-in hold which was 25 minutes in duration, 15 minutes longer than usual to give the Launch Team additional time to deal with any issues. At that point, the NROL-38 Spacecraft was switched to internal power to place it in its launch configuration. During the hold, the Launch Team received another weather briefing. Meteorologists reported good conditions and Upper Level Winds were within limits as well. Teams completed the final pre-launch Polls and decided to press into the Automated Countdown Sequence. The Countdown resumed at 12:24 GMT and final vehicle reconfigurations were made in the 4 minutes leading up to Blastoff. Pressurization of Atlas and Centaur Tanks to Flight Level was completed as expected. Also, the vehicle switched to internal power and the Launch Control System was enabled. The single, 2-chamber RD-180 Main Engine of the Atlas Rocket roared to life and was allowed to reach full thrust while being closely monitored by flight computers. The engine was performing well and the Rocket was committed to liftoff. 
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Photo: United Launch Alliance
_Atlas V started its ascent at T+1.1 Seconds when actual liftoff occurred. Atlas V 401 features no Solid Rocket Boosters, a single Engine on its Centaur Upper Stage and a 4-meter Payload Fairing. Without Boosters, the launcher lifted off from its launch pad relatively gently with a Thrust-To-Weight-Ratio of just 1.166. Just after launch, the Atlas Rocket completed its Roll and Pitch Maneuver to align itself with its flight azimuth to leave the Space Coast. After about 80 seconds, the vehicle passed Mach 1 and encountered Maximum Dynamic Pressure. The vehicle continued powered ascent with its RD-180 Engine that kept burning until T+4 Minutes, 3 Seconds providing 3,827 Kilonewtons of thrust. Stage Separation and Centaur Ignition were normal. The Centaur Upper Stage and its single RL-10A-4-2 providing 99.2 Kilonewtons of thrust started the first of at least 2 Burns. Just a few seconds after Centaur Ignition, the protective Payload Fairing was separated after the launcher had left the dense portion of the atmosphere taking thermal and aerodynamic loads within limits. At that point, the Atlas V and the NROL-38 Payload flew into the usual News Blackout of NRO Missions. No news on the progress of the mission are available from that point on. Mission Success was  announced well after the actual event.
_Ahead of the flight, much speculation regarding the NROL-38 Payload was going on. It is expected that the mission was targeting a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit featuring two Centaur Burns and the nominal Contamination and Collision Avoidance Maneuver after Payload Separation. The first two Upper Stage Burns were separated by a Coast Phase in a Low Earth Parking Orbit. For this flight, the Centaur Upper Stage featured a white paint coating which is either used for thermal protection or to reduce contamination. (Note: The White Centaur might also be left over from a previous flight assignment leading to midsled estimates on the Mission Profile). With this white coating, Centaur can operate in orbit for extended ascent missions since Hydrogen and Oxygen boiloff is limited by the paint. Typically, payloads being flown aboard a white Centaur are separated 100 to 120 minutes after launch as opposed to missions with a duration of less than 1 hour flown by the regular Centaur. A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued for the re-entry/drop zone of the Upper Stage showing its impact area in the Pacific Ocean, north-east of Puerto Rico. Centaur will make its return to Earth between 21:16 and 22:21 GMT according to the NOTAM corresponding with a Mission Elapsed Time of 8 Hours and 48 Minutes (assuming a launch at the opening at the launch window and a re-entry at the opening of the Entry Window which usually takes places several minutes later). This indicates that Centaur might indeed operate for several hours before setting up for entry.
Ted Molczan, a well known satellite tracker and space analyst, has published his theory on the Mission Profile and payload nature. He expects the Centaur to make its second Burn at the first ascending node about 1 Hour and 9 Minutes into the mission placing the stack in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. After separating NROL-38, Centaur makes the CCAM Maneuver which extends its operating period to more than 2 Hours and because of that extended mission duration, the Centaur Features the white coating. Molczan estimates the initial Orbit of NROL-38 to be 269 by 37,496 Kilometers.
"My confidence that this is an SDS launch is 90 percent; to be certain, we will have to see where it goes, and what it does," Molczan writes (Note: this theory was published ahead of the Centaur Entry Zone NOTAM and Ted Molczan has reduced his certainty after the NOTAM was issued, but this is still the only plausible theory ahead of launch). SDS stands for Satellite Data System and is a constellation of 5 satellites that are used to relay data from National Reconnaissance Satellites in Low Earth Orbit to NRO Ground Stations. The satellite constellation was established in 1976 and is now in its third generation that began in 1998. The satellite fleet consists of three Spacecraft in Molniya Orbits (highly elliptical orbits to cover the polar regions) and two in Geosynchronous Orbit. The NROL-27 Payload has been confirmed to be an SDS Satellite that entered its spot in Geosynchronous Orbit in 2011 replacing the SDS 3-1 Spacecraft.

SDS-3 Constellation in 2009

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Image Langbroek, Software: Tricarico, Orbits: McCants
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Photo: National Reconnaissance Office
Declassified image on an early-generation SDS Satellite
_It operates from 10 degrees West. It is believed that NROL-38 will replace SDS-3-2 at 144 degrees West. "It should not be difficult for experienced observers to find the payload if/when it arrives at the 144 W SDS slot. Its initial operational inclination is likely to be about 5 deg," Molczan writes. Satellite Trackers will try to get a hold of the Spacecraft once it enters orbit to see which position it will take to confirm the nature of the spacecraft. Also indicating that this is an SDS launch is the type of Payload Fairing used. It is the smallest of the Atlas V Fairings but was also in use on Atlas IIAS that delivered at least two SDS Spacecraft to Geosynchronous Orbit. In addition, the flight azimuth that was targeted by the Atlas V Rocket leaving the Florida Space Coast also matched the trajectory necessary to reach the SDS-3-2 Transfer Orbit. Summing up, the SDS theory was the only theory that has shown a fairly good agreement with all factors known pre-launch, but NROL-38’s identity can only be revealed by post-launch analysis after the vehicle was spotted and tracked for a certain amount of time.

About 70 Minutes after Launch, United Launch Alliance confirmed Mission Success in a statement indicating that NROL-38 was successfully delivered to Orbit: "Congratulations to the NRO and to all the mission partners involved in this critical national security launch," said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Mission Operations. "This launch marks an important milestone as we celebrate the 50th successful Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) mission, with 31 Atlas 5 and 19 Delta 4 missions flown since August 2002."
"Twelve of the 50 EELV launches have been NRO missions and these have been vital to our overall mission of delivering on commitments critical to our national security," said Bruce Carlson, director, National Reconnaissance Office. "I thank and congratulate ULA and the EELV program for the tremendous performance and achievement of this very impressive and noteworthy milestone."

Classified Satellite and its Atlas V Launcher stand ready for Launch

June 19, 2012
_ The Atlas V 401 Vehicle and its Payload, the classified NROL-38 National Reconnaissance Office Satellite, are ready for Launch during Wednesday’s 59-minute launch window opening at 12:28 GMT. Final preparations for the countdown were made on Monday after the Launcher was rolled out to the Launch Pad at Space Launch Complex 41 following a quick repair of an Air Flow Duct on the Mobile Launcher that delayed the launch from its original target of June 18. The Launch Team was off duty on Tuesday to rest ahead of a long day of countdown and launch operations on Wednesday starting just after 1am local time when the 7-hour launch countdown begins.
Countdown operations will begin 7 hours before the planned launch time with Launch Vehicle Activation. Subsequently, initial checks of the Atlas Launcher will be made and the Launch Area will be cleared off all personnel. At T-2 Hours, the tanking process will start as the first stage is filled with Liquid Oxygen and the second stage is loaded with Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid Oxygen – going through a complex tanking procedure involving slow and fast propellant fill followed by topping and replenish. While the countdown continues, final systems checks will be performed by the Launch Team. Final Flight Software will be loaded into the flight computers aboard the Atlas and countdown clocks will stop at the T-4-Minute Mark to give teams a chance to address any open issues and conduct the final GO/No GO Polls setting the stage for Launch. As clocks start ticking down from T-4 Minutes, final vehicle configurations will be made as part of the Automated Sequence to place the vehicle in its launch configuration. Liftoff is planned to occur at the opening of the 59-minute Launch Window at 12:28 GMT on June 20. A complete Atlas V Countdown Timeline is available here.
Meteorologists are still predicting a 70% chance of favorable weather conditions during the launch window. Cumulus cloud rule violations, high ground winds and high proton flux due to increased solar activity are the primary concerns for Wednesday’s launch attempt. Chances for good weather during Thursday’s launch window are 50%. 
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Photo: United Launch Alliance
_As per usual procedures for national Reconnaissance Office Launches, the Atlas V Vehicle and its Payload will fly into a News Blackout at the Point of Payload Fairing Separation. United Launch Alliance will provide a webcast showing the final 20 minutes of the countdown, the liftoff and the initial phase of the ascent broadcasting first stage flight and the first portion of the initial Upper Stage Burn before ending their webcast. Confirmation of mission success is expected several hours after the event. Live Countdown and Mission Updates will be available via @Spaceflight101 on Twitter starting about 90 Minutes ahead of the Liftoff Target.

Photo Gallery: Atlas V at Sunset

Atlas V and NROL-38 back at the Launch Pad

June 18, 2012
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Photo: United Launch Alliance
_ The Atlas V 401 Launch Vehicle with the classified NROL-38 Payload was rolled out to the Launch Pad of Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, on Monday after the issue that delayed the launch was fixed.

After the vehicle was rolled out on Saturday, technicians found a problem with an Air Flow Duct on the Mobile Launch Platform. Fixing the issue was not a difficult task but required the Rocket to be rolled back to the Vertical Integration Facility in order to access the duct. After the problem was fixed, the launcher was ready for Rollout again. The 30-minute move began at 10am local time on Monday – 14:00 GMT. Once arriving at the Pad, Launch Platform securing was started. Electrical connections will be made and propellant and communication lines will be connected. Later, the trackmobiles that were used to transport the stack will be removed and pad close-outs will start to set the stage for countdown operations on Wednesday.
_The Atlas V will spend a quiet Tuesday at the Launch Complex before the launch team reports to console just after 1am local time on Wednesday. The 59-minute launch window opens at 12:28 GMT on June 20. Meteorologists are predicting a 70% chance of favorable weather during Wednesday’s Launch Window with cumulus clouds, proton flux and ground winds being the primary concerns.

Atlas V / NROL-38 Launch delayed

June 17, 2012
United Launch Alliance has delayed the Launch of the Atlas V 401 Rocket carrying NROL-38 - a US National Reconnaissance Payload that was originally set to launch on Monday, June 18.
Following Rollout of the Launch Vehicle on Saturday, a problem with an environmental control system duct that failed near its connection to the Mobile Launch Platform. To replace the hardware, the vehicle will be rolled back to the Vertical Integration Facility where the repair operation will take place. Launch is now planned for Wednesday, June 20 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Photo Gallery: Atlas V Rollout
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Photo: United Launch Alliance

Atlas V with NROL-38 rolled to Launch Pad

June 16, 2012
Passing its Flight Readiness Review on Friday, an Atlas V 401 Launch Vehicle with the secret NROL-38 Payload under its Payload Fairing, was rolled out to the Launch Pad at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Saturday to kick off the final set of launch preparations leading to Countdown and Liftoff on Monday.
Mission Managers met on Friday to have a final look at the Launch Vehicle, the Payload and all Ground Support Systems needed for the flight before giving the green light for countdown operations as no concerns were present.
Making the first 550 meters of its trip to its classified Orbit, the Mobile Launch Platform with the Atlas V and NROL-38 on top of it started moving just after 10am local time- 14:00 GMT. Two trackmobiles were used to transport the vehicle to the Launch Pad. The trip from the VIF to the launch site took about 30 minutes and was completed at 14:40 GMT. Once arriving at the Launch Pad, a busy day of launch preparations got underway as the vehicle was secured at its launch site. Electrical connections will be made and propellant and communication lines will be connected. Later, the trackmobiles will be removed and pad close-outs will start to set the stage for countdown operations on Monday. The Atlas V will spend a quiet Sunday at the Launch Complex before the launch team reports to console just after 1am local time on Monday. Countdown operations will begin 7 hours before launch with Launch Vehicle Activation. Subsequently, initial checks of the Atlas Launcher will be made and the Launch Area will be cleared off all personnel. At T-2 Hours, the tanking process will start as the first stage is filled with Liquid Oxygen and the second stage is loaded with Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid Oxygen – going through a complex tanking procedure involving slow and fast propellant fill followed by topping and replenish. While the countdown continues, final systems checks will be performed by the Launch Team. Final Flight Software will be loaded into the flight computers aboard the Atlas and countdown clocks will stop at the T-4-Minute Mark to give teams a chance to address any open issues and conduct the final GO/No GO Polls setting the stage for Launch.
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Photo: ULA
As clocks start ticking down from T-4 Minutes, final vehicle configurations will be made as part of the Automated Sequence to place the vehicle in its launch configuration. Liftoff is planned to occur at the opening Monday's 59-minute Launch Window at 12:26 GMT. A complete Atlas V Countdown Timeline is available here.
As per usual procedures for national Reconnaissance Office Launches, the Atlas V Vehicle and its Payload will fly into a News Blackout at the Point of Payload Fairing Separation. United Launch Alliance will provide a webcast showing the final 20 minutes of the countdown, the liftoff and the initial phase of the ascent broadcasting first stage flight and the first portion of the initial Upper Stage Burn before ending their webcast. Confirmation of mission success is expected several hours after the event.

Photo Gallery: NROL-38 Payload Installation

Launcher Integration complete, Launch Readiness Review coming up

June 14, 2012
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Image: NRO
An Atlas V 401 rocket is approaching its Launch Day as final preparations are being made for the first United Launch Alliance Mission for the US National Reconnaissance Office in June 2012.
At Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the secret NROL-38 Payload has been installed atop the Atlas V Launch Vehicle and integrated testing has been completed. Final vehicle close-outs and reconfigurations are also complete and the launcher is ready for Rollout. The Launch Readiness Review is coming up on Friday. Mission Managers will meet to discuss all systems associated with the launcher, its payload and the ground support equipment to make sure everything is ready to support the mission.
Pending a clean review, the Launcher will be moved to the Launch Pad on Saturday for final launch preparations and the Launch Countdown. The Rollout is planned to begin at 10am local time – 14:00 GMT. Two trackmobiles will be used to move the Mobile Launcher and the Atlas V with its Payload to the Launch Pad. Rollout will take approximately 30 minutes. When arriving at the Pad, the structure will be secured and electrical connections will be made. Also, propellant and communication lines will be connected. Later, the trackmobiles will be removed and pad close-outs will start to set the stage for countdown operations on Monday - the launch team will be off on Sunday to make sure all teams are well rested ahead of launch day.
The Launch Window for this launch has been revealed by the NRO and ULA. The Atlas V rocket will have a 59-minute window on Monday, opening at 12:26 GMT. A backup launch slot is available on Tuesday, June 20, and Wednesday, June 21.
Meteorologists have issued a 80% chance of favorable weather conditions during the launch window on Monday. Primary concerns for Monday’s attempt are Cumulus Clouds. Forecast models show two layers of clouds, a low layer of scattered Cumulus Clouds and a broken layer of Cirrus Clouds. Also, a small chance of showers in the vicinity remains. Winds at ground level will be well within launch weather criteria. On Tuesday and Wednesday, odds for favorable weather are 80% and 70% respectively.

Atlas V being readied for classified NRO Mission

June 6, 2012
_ United Launch Alliance is preparing for the first of two US National Reconnaissance Office Launches planned for June 2012. An Atlas V 401 Rocket is set to launch from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on June 18 delivering NROL-38 to its classified orbit. Also launching from the Cape will be a Delta IV Heavy aiming for a liftoff late in June.
As with all National Reconnaissance Office Launches, no details on the nature of the payload and the ascent mission are given by the NRO or United Launch Alliance. The Launch Campaign started in the first week of April when the Delta Mariner delivered the Atlas V Launcher to the Space Coast. Following the launch of AEHF-2 on May 4, assembly of the next Atlas V Launcher began inside the Launcher Integration Building of Launch Complex 41. The Common Core Booster was mated to the Mobile Launch Platform before the Centaur Upper Stage was attached to the CCB. Thorough tests were performed to ensure all of the vehicle’s systems were ready to support the mission. Preparations are now underway to move the secret Payload to its Launch Vehicle and complete final checkouts and flight & countdown simulations before the Flight Readiness Review takes place a few days prior to launch. The exact launch time on June 18 has not been announced yet, but it is expected that ULA and the NRO will announce it leading up to Launch Day. The exact length of the launch window will most likely not be published.
No details on the NROL-38 Payload have been given, however, speculations among Space Analysts and Satellite Trackers are already in full swing. Once the NOTAMS (Notices to Airmen) for this flight are published, more analyses will be made to deduce the Orbital Parameters that are targeted for NROL-38. Currently, it is believed that the NROL-38 Spacecraft is targeting a Geostationary Orbit or Molniya Orbit (a highly elliptical orbit), because the Centaur Upper Stage features a white paint coating which is either used for thermal protection or to reduce contamination. With this white coating, Centaur can operate in orbit for extended ascent missions since Hydrogen and Oxygen boiloff is limited by the paint. 
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Atlas V Assembly **File-Image** - Photo: NASA Kennedy
_Typically, payloads being flown aboard a white Centaur are separated 100 to 120 minute after launch as opposed to missions with a duration of less than 1 hour flown by the regular Centaur. Atlas V 401 can lift Payloads of up to 4,750 Kilograms to Geostationary Transfer Orbit. A Launch Vehicle Overview can be found here.