Atlas IIAS | NROL-12
The primary purpose of the SDS satellites is to relay imagery from low-flying reconnaissance satellites, notably the Keyhole optical reconnaissance and Lacrosse/Onyx radar reconnaissance satellites to ground stations in the United States.
Atlas II was a member of the Atlas family of launch vehicles, which evolved from the successful Atlas missile program of the 1950s. It was designed to launch payloads into low earth orbit, geosynchronous transfer orbit or geosynchronous orbit. Sixty-three launches of the Atlas II, IIA and IIAS models were carried out between 1991 and 2004; all sixty-three launches were successes, making the Atlas II the most reliable launch system in history.
When is the Atlas IIAS | NROL-12 launch?
What rocket is being used for NROL-12 (Quasar 14)?
Where is the Atlas IIAS | NROL-12 launching from?
What orbit is NROL-12 (Quasar 14) going to?
Who is launching NROL-12 (Quasar 14)?
Can I watch the Atlas IIAS | NROL-12 launch live?
Mission Profile
NROL-12 (Quasar 14) was a Atlas IIAS mission operated by Lockheed Martin that lifted off from Launch Complex 36B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on October 11, 2001. The flight carried its payload on a communications mission to Geostationary Orbit. The launch was a success.