Lockheed MartinAtlas IIALaunch Complex 36A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
NROL-5
Launched
January 29, 1998
Image: Department of Defense
Summary
NROL-5 (Quasar 12) launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIA from Launch Complex 36A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on January 29, 1998. It was Lockheed Martin's 33rd launch, 2nd this year and humanity's 4,213th orbital launch attempt. It was the 13th Atlas IIA flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical). 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Atlas IIA · Lockheed Martin
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Communications · Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical)
- Milestone
- 13th Atlas IIA flight · 1st this yearLockheed Martin's 33rd launch2nd this yearhumanity's 4,213th orbital launch attempt6th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Catalogued objects
2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage; 1 still in orbit
- USA 137 · NORAD 25148 · re-entered
Centaur AC-109 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
Satellite Data System (SDS) spacecraft are communication relay satellites for transmitting real-time data from US reconnaissance satellites (e.g. KH-11, Onyx, Topaz) in polar areas. They are also used for communications to USAF aircraft on polar routes and connect the various ground stations of the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN). The spacecraft relay the downlinked data to a ground station at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Pad
Launch Complex 36A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
50th launch from Launch Complex 36A, 1st this year · 542nd from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
71 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
96 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did NROL-5 (Quasar 12) launch?
NROL-5 (Quasar 12) launched on January 29, 1998. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch NROL-5 (Quasar 12)?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched NROL-5 (Quasar 12)?
Atlas IIA, flown by Lockheed Martin. Atlas IIA spec sheet
Where did NROL-5 (Quasar 12) launch from?
Launch Complex 36A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.
What orbit was NROL-5 (Quasar 12) going to?
Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical), a communications mission.
How many satellites did NROL-5 (Quasar 12) launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued, no longer in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).