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United Launch AllianceAtlas V 501Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
NROL-39 (USA-247)
Launched
December 6, 2013
Summary
NROL-39 (USA-247) launched on an United Launch Alliance Atlas V 501 from Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on December 6, 2013. It was United Launch Alliance's 78th launch, 11th this year and humanity's 5,342nd orbital launch attempt. It was the 5th Atlas V 501 flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO). 14 objects from this launch are catalogued, all of them payloads.
- Watch
- Atlas V NROL-39 Launch HighlightsUnited Launch Alliance
- Vehicle
- Atlas V 501 · United Launch Alliance
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)
- Milestone
- 5th Atlas V 501 flight · 1st this yearUnited Launch Alliance's 78th launch11th this yearhumanity's 5,342nd orbital launch attempt74th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Catalogued objects
14 catalogued: 14 payloads; 5 still in orbit
- USA 247 · NORAD 39462 · in orbit
- FIREBIRD U1 · NORAD 39463 · re-entered November 27, 2023
- FIREBIRD U2 · NORAD 39464 · re-entered
- Aerocube 5a · NORAD 39465 · re-entered April 19, 2023
- Aerocube 5b · NORAD 39466 · re-entered November 23, 2022
- ALICE · NORAD 39467 · in orbit
- SNAP-3 · NORAD 39468 · re-entered April 26, 2025
- MCubed-2 · NORAD 39469 · in orbit
- CUNYSAT-1 · NORAD 39470 · re-entered October 14, 2025
- CP8/IPEX · NORAD 39471 · in orbit
- SMDC-ONE 3.2 · NORAD 39472 · re-entered June 20, 2026
- Tacsat-6 · NORAD 39473 · re-entered September 21, 2026
Show 2 more payloads
- SMDC-ONE 3.1 · NORAD 39474 · re-entered September 16, 2026
- GEMSat · NORAD 39475 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
Classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
38th launch from Space Launch Complex 3E, 2nd this year · 656th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
48 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
297 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did NROL-39 (USA-247) launch?
NROL-39 (USA-247) launched on December 6, 2013. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch NROL-39 (USA-247)?
Coverage: Atlas V NROL-39 Launch Highlights. Watch the replay
What rocket launched NROL-39 (USA-247)?
Atlas V 501, flown by United Launch Alliance. Atlas V 501 spec sheet
Where did NROL-39 (USA-247) launch from?
Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was NROL-39 (USA-247) going to?
Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO), a government/top secret mission.
How many satellites did NROL-39 (USA-247) launch?
14 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 5 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).