Lockheed MartinAtlas IIASSpace Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
NROL-18
Launched
December 2, 2003
Image: U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Molly Gilliam
Summary
NROL-18 (Intruder 6A & 6B) launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS from Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on December 2, 2003. It was Lockheed Martin's 69th launch, 4th this year and humanity's 4,632nd orbital launch attempt. It was the 26th Atlas IIAS flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). 3 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Atlas IIAS · Lockheed Martin
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 26th Atlas IIAS flight · 1st this yearLockheed Martin's 69th launch4th this yearhumanity's 4,632nd orbital launch attempt56th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Catalogued objects
3 catalogued: 2 payloads, 1 rocket stage; 3 still in orbit
- USA 173 · NORAD 28095 · in orbit
- USA 173 P/L 2 · NORAD 28097 · in orbit
Centaur AC-164 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
USA 173 is an American military satellite (operated by the National Reconnaissance Office)
Pad
Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
31st launch from Space Launch Complex 3E, 1st this year · 616th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
48 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
about 2 years after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did NROL-18 (Intruder 6A & 6B) launch?
NROL-18 (Intruder 6A & 6B) launched on December 2, 2003. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch NROL-18 (Intruder 6A & 6B)?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched NROL-18 (Intruder 6A & 6B)?
Atlas IIAS, flown by Lockheed Martin. Atlas IIAS spec sheet
Where did NROL-18 (Intruder 6A & 6B) launch from?
Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was NROL-18 (Intruder 6A & 6B) going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a government/top secret mission.
How many satellites did NROL-18 (Intruder 6A & 6B) launch?
2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).