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Rocket LabElectronRocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Wise One Looks Ahead (NROL-162)

Launched

July 13, 2022

Launch SuccessfulWeather 70% go
Wise One Looks Ahead Patch

Summary

NROL-162 (RASR-3) launched on a Rocket Lab Electron from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand on July 13, 2022. It was Rocket Lab's 28th launch, 5th this year and humanity's 6,264th orbital launch attempt. It was the 28th Electron flight and the 5th this year. Booster 28 flew for the 1st time and was expended. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). 3 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.

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Vehicle
Electron · Rocket Lab
Booster
  • 28 · flight 1 · expendable4/6 landed here
Mission
Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)for NRO
Milestone
28th Electron flight · 5th this yearRocket Lab's 28th launch5th this yearhumanity's 6,264th orbital launch attempt82nd orbital launch attempt this year

Webcast

Replay
Watch on YouTube

Flight preview

Catalogued objects

3 catalogued: 1 payload, 2 rocket stages; 2 still in orbit

  • USA 334 · NORAD 53102 · in orbit

Electron 28 Stage 2 · re-entered October 2, 2022

Electron 28 Kick Stage · in orbit

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Pad

Map of Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

26th launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, 3rd this year · 28th from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

43 launches from this pad · 84 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

71 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New ZealandOpen in maps

Updates

Payload separation success

scottm3 · Jul 13, 2022 · source

Show 6 earlier updates

  • Liftoff

    scottm3 · 7/13/2022

  • T-0 updated

    scottm3 · 7/13/2022 · source

  • Launch time updated to 06:00 UTC

    scottm3 · 7/13/2022 · source

  • 70% go for launch

    scottm3 · 7/13/2022 · source

  • Delayed by a day to July 13th due to weather

    SwGustav · 7/11/2022 · source

  • NET July 12th

    SwGustav · 7/5/2022 · source

Questions

When did NROL-162 (RASR-3) launch?

NROL-162 (RASR-3) launched on July 13, 2022. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch NROL-162 (RASR-3)?

Coverage: Rocket Lab 'Wise One Looks Ahead' Launch. Watch the replay

What rocket launched NROL-162 (RASR-3)?

Electron, flown by Rocket Lab. Electron spec sheet

Where did NROL-162 (RASR-3) launch from?

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.

Did the booster land?

Booster 28 flew for the 1st time and was expended.

What orbit was NROL-162 (RASR-3) going to?

Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a government/top secret mission.

How many satellites did NROL-162 (RASR-3) launch?

1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).