A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket is launching the NROL-91 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), scheduled for September 24, 2022, at 2:53 p.m. PDT (5:53 p.m. EDT; 2153 UTC). Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
The NRO is the Department of Defense organization responsible for developing, acquiring, launching and operating America’s reconnaissance satellites, as well as operating associated data processing facilities in support of national security.
The NRO uses a variety of satellites to meet mission needs — from smallsats to more traditional, larger satellites. This allows the NRO to pursue a hybrid architecture designed to provide global coverage against a wide range of intelligence requirements, carry out research and development efforts, and assist emergency and disaster relief efforts in the U.S. and around the world. The NRO never loses focus on who they are working to protect: our nation and its citizens.
Payload Fairing (PLF): The payload fairing is a composite bisector (two-piece shell), 5-meter diameter fairing. The PLF encapsulates the spacecraft to protect it from the launch environment on ascent. The vehicle’s height, with the 63-ft (19.2-m) long PLF, is approximately 233 ft (71.0 m).
The Delta Cryogenic Second Stage (DCSS): This is a cryogenic liquid, hydrogen/liquid oxygen-fueled vehicle, powered by a single RL10C-2-1 engine that produces 24,750 lbs (110.1 kilo-Newtons) of thrust. The DCSS propellant tanks are structurally rigid and constructed of formed aluminum plate, spun-formed aluminum domes and aluminum ring forgings. The tanks are insulated with a spray-on insulation and helium-purged insulation blankets. An equipment shelf attached to the aft dome of the DCSS liquid oxygen tank provides the structural mountings for vehicle electronics.
Booster: The three Delta IV Heavy common booster core (CBC) tanks are structurally rigid and constructed of isogrid aluminum barrels, spun-formed aluminum domes and machined aluminum tank skirts. Delta IV booster propulsion is provided by the throttleable RS-68A engine system which burns cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, with each of the three booster engines delivering 705,250 lbs (312.3 kilo-Newtons) of thrust at sea level. The booster’s cryogenic tanks are insulated with a combination of spray-on and bond-on insulation and helium-purged insulation blankets. The booster is controlled by the DCSS avionics system, which provides guidance, flight control.
NRO Mission
For 60 years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified and resilient architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.
NRO data supports the National Security Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and other NRO mission partners to produce intelligence products for the President, Congress, national policymakers, warfighters, and civil users. The NRO’s hybrid overhead architecture designed to provide global coverage against a wide range of intelligence requirements, carry out research and development efforts, and assist emergency and disaster-relief efforts in the U.S. and around the world.
The National Reconnaissance Office is scheduled to launch the NROL-91 mission aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Carrying a national security payload designed, built and operated by NRO, NROL-91 supports the overall national security mission to provide intelligence data to the United States’ senior policy makers, the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense. NROL-91 is NRO’s fifth launch of 2022, and is part of more than a half-dozen planned launches for the year.
Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6)
NROL-91 will launch from Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The first launch from SLC-6 was on an Athena I rocket in August of 1995. In 2000, United Launch Alliance took over SLC-6 and re-fitted it to serve as the west coast home for the Delta IV launch vehicle family with modifications to the Assembly Building, Mobile Service Tower, Launch Tower, and other support structures.
The NRO is the best in the world at providing overhead intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to more than a half-million government users —including every member of the Intelligence Community, two dozen domestic agencies, our nation’s military, lawmakers, and decision makers.
NRO has a busy launch year for 2022 with more than a half-dozen dozen payloads scheduled for orbit. NRO is partnering with the UK Ministry of Defence to launch the Prometheus-2 mission on a Virgin Orbit LauncherOne rocket later this year. Additional information on upcoming launches will be made available at www.NRO.gov.