Watch the Launch

Additional Media

404 - File or directory not found.

The resource you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.

NROL-68

Circle Image

Overview

Destination: Geostationary Orbit
Mission: Government/Top Secret

Geostationary Orbit Space Launch Complex 37B Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA Probability: 90% #NROL68

Classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Telemetry

Launch trajectory and telemetry simulations provided by Flight Club - a rocket launch simulator and orbital trajectory visualiser for all things space!

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • June 22, 2023, 3:47 p.m.

Launch success.


Cosmic_Penguin • June 22, 2023, 9:18 a.m.

Liftoff.


LL2 • June 22, 2023, 8:54 a.m.

Livestream has started


Cosmic_Penguin • June 22, 2023, 6:51 a.m.

Updated weather.


Cosmic_Penguin • June 22, 2023, 5:38 a.m.

New T-0.


Delta IV Heavy

Family:
Configuration: Heavy

The Delta IV Heavy (Delta 9250H) is an expendable heavy-lift launch vehicle, the largest type of the Delta IV family, and is the world's second highest-capacity rocket in operation. It is manufactured by United Launch Alliance and was first launched in 2004.

See Details
Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    72.0 m
  • Diameter
    5.0 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    733.0 T
  • Thrust
    8674.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Delta IV Heavy
  • Family
  • Variant
    Heavy
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Delta IV Heavy
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $350000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    28370.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    14210.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
    14500.0 kg
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

United Launch Alliance

United Launch Alliance

(ULA)

CEO: Tory Bruno Founded: 2006 Successes: 168 Failures: 0 Pending: 43

Agency Type:

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.

INFO WIKI

Related News

Arstechnica

Rocket Report: Electron scoops up Virgin launch, ULA flies first 2023 mission

"In microlaunchers that balance is on a knife’s edge."

SpaceNews

ULA’s Delta 4 Heavy launches classified spy satellite

United Launch Alliance launched a classified National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite on a Delta 4 Heavy rocket June 22 at 5:18 a.m. Eastern from Space Launch Complex-37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

Arstechnica

After tough start this year, United Launch Alliance can turn things around tonight

"These launches place critical capabilities into orbit for our nation."

NASASpaceflight

ULA’s penultimate Delta IV Heavy launches NROL-68 mission

United Launch Alliance’s penultimate Delta IV Heavy rocket took flight on the NROL-68 mission Thursday, lofting a secretive payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. Liftoff, from Space Launch Complex 37B at Cape Canaveral, is expect…

Teslarati

United Launch Alliance ready for penultimate Delta IV Heavy launch

United Launch Alliance is targeting the launch of the penultimate Delta IV Heavy with the secretive NROL-68 mission at 3:29 AM ET...

Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Space Launch Complex 37B


Ariane 62
Success
21 hours, 43 minutes ago
Sentinel-1D
Ariane Launch Area 4 - Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Sentinel-1D carries an advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth’s surface as part of the Sentine…


Long March 7A
Success
2 days, 14 hours ago
Yaogan 46
201 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Classified Earth observation satellite officially reported as for "national resources/hydrology/meteorology surveying & disaster management" purposes.


LVM-3 (GSLV Mk III)
Success
3 days, 6 hours ago
CMS-03 (GSAT-7R)
Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad - Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India

Communications Satellite for the Indian Navy, replacing GSAT-7 for secure real-time links between Indian warships, submarines, aircraft, and shore-ba…


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 13 hours ago
Bandwagon 4 (Dedicated Mid-Inclination Rideshare)
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Dedicated rideshare flight to a mid-inclination orbit with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers.


Falcon 9
Success
4 days, 22 hours ago
Starlink Group 11-23
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Long March 2
Success
5 days, 3 hours ago
Shenzhou 21
Launch Area 4 (SLS-1 / 921) - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Tenth crewed flight to the Chinese space station.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week ago
Starlink Group 10-37
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
Starlink Group 11-21
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 3 days ago
Starlink Group 10-21
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Long March 3
Success
1 week, 3 days ago
Gaofen-14 02
Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1) - Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Gaofen is a series of civilian Earth observation satellites developed and launched for the China High-definition Earth Observation System (CHEOS), a …