United Launch AllianceDelta IV HeavySpace Launch Complex 37B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
NROL-70
Launched
April 9, 2024 · 16:53 UTC
Image: United Launch Alliance
Summary
NROL-70 launched on an United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy from Space Launch Complex 37B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on April 9, 2024 at 16:53 UTC. The launch window ran from 16:53 to 22:51 UTC. It was United Launch Alliance's 161st launch, 2nd this year and humanity's 6,657th orbital launch attempt. It was the 16th Delta IV Heavy flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Geostationary Orbit (Direct-GEO). 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- April 9 LIVE Broadcast: Delta IV Heavy NROL-70United Launch Alliance
- Vehicle
- Delta IV Heavy · United Launch Alliance
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Geostationary Orbit (Direct-GEO)for NRO
- Milestone
- 16th Delta IV Heavy flight · 1st this yearUnited Launch Alliance's 161st launch2nd this yearhumanity's 6,657th orbital launch attempt68th orbital launch attempt this year
Webcast
Flight preview
Simulate in Flight ClubFlight timeline
- T−5SIgnition
- T−0Liftoff
- T+1M18SSupersonic
- T+1M20SMax-Q
- T+3M55SBECO
- T+3M57SBooster Separation
- T+5M35SMECO
- T+5M42SStage 2 Separation
- T+5M55SSES-1
- T+6M37SFairing Separation
Catalogued objects
2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage; 2 still in orbit
- USA 353 · NORAD 59453 · in orbit
Delta 389 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
Classified payload for the NRO. Last flight of the Delta IV Heavy rocket.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 37B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
40th launch from Space Launch Complex 37B, 1st this year · 944th from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Local pad time at liftoff: Apr 9, 12:53 PM EDT, in daylight
40 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
292 days after the previous launch from this pad
Updates
Launch success confirmed
Show 9 earlier updates
Liftoff
hitura-nobad · 4/9/2024
Official Webcast by United Launch Alliance has started
LL2 · 4/9/2024 · source
Weather 90% GO
hitura-nobad · 4/8/2024 · source
Rescheduled for April 9.
Cosmic_Penguin · 4/2/2024 · source
NET April 8.
Cosmic_Penguin · 3/31/2024 · source
Delayed beyond April 1st UTC.
Cosmic_Penguin · 3/31/2024 · source
NET April 1st.
Cosmic_Penguin · 3/29/2024 · source
Delayed beyond March 29, TBD.
Cosmic_Penguin · 3/29/2024 · source
Setting GO
hitura-nobad · 3/28/2024 · source
Questions
When did NROL-70 launch?
NROL-70 launched on April 9, 2024 at 16:53 UTC. The launch window ran from 16:53 to 22:51 UTC.
Where can I watch NROL-70?
Coverage: April 9 LIVE Broadcast: Delta IV Heavy NROL-70. Watch the replay
What rocket launched NROL-70?
Delta IV Heavy, flown by United Launch Alliance. Delta IV Heavy spec sheet
Where did NROL-70 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 37B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA. Liftoff was Apr 9, 12:53 PM EDT local time at the pad.
What orbit was NROL-70 going to?
Geostationary Orbit (Direct-GEO), a government/top secret mission.
How many satellites did NROL-70 launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).