Orbital Sciences CorporationMinotaur CSpace Launch Complex 576E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
NROL-8
Launched
October 3, 1998
Summary
NROL-8 (STEX) launched on an Orbital Sciences Corporation Minotaur C from Space Launch Complex 576E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on October 3, 1998. It was Orbital Sciences Corporation's 26th launch, 6th this year and humanity's 4,267th orbital launch attempt. It was the 2nd Minotaur C 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
- Minotaur C · Orbital Sciences Corporation
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 2nd Minotaur C flight · 1st this yearOrbital Sciences Corporation's 26th launch6th this yearhumanity's 4,267th orbital launch attempt60th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Catalogued objects
3 catalogued: 2 payloads, 1 rocket stage; 3 still in orbit
- STEX · NORAD 25489 · in orbit
- ATEX · NORAD 25615 · in orbit
Taurus 3 Stage 4 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
The STEX (Space Technology Experiments) satellite carried 29 new technologies intended to result in lower cost and higher performance spacecraft for future missions.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 576E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
3rd launch from Space Launch Complex 576E, 2nd this year · 587th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
9 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
234 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did NROL-8 (STEX) launch?
NROL-8 (STEX) launched on October 3, 1998. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch NROL-8 (STEX)?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched NROL-8 (STEX)?
Minotaur C, flown by Orbital Sciences Corporation. Minotaur C spec sheet
Where did NROL-8 (STEX) launch from?
Space Launch Complex 576E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was NROL-8 (STEX) going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a government/top secret mission.
How many satellites did NROL-8 (STEX) launch?
2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).