Long delayed classified U.S. NRO L-26 satellite launched

William Atkins
Monday, 19 January 2009 22:36

Science - Space

The launch of the NRO L-26 satellite aboard the ULA/Boeing Delta 4-Heavy rocket had been delayed for over three years. The mission is to, generally, boister the defense of the country,

The NRO has been criticized for mishandling several defense projects in recent years.

In fact, Aviation Week stated, “NRO has been criticized for mismanagement of projects like its Future Imagery Architecture program, and the in orbit failure of the advanced USA 193 imaging satellite."

Specifically, "That spacecraft launched from Vandenberg in December 2007 and died almost immediately after launch. It was then destroyed in orbit by a U.S. Navy missile to prevent its frozen ball of hydrazine propellant from harming anyone on the ground (Aerospace DAILY, Feb. 22).”

The Aviation Week article concluded with the statement, “The NRO also continues to be criticized for a lack of imagination since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.”

Additional information on the launch is found in the Milcom article “US Launches Advanced Elint Satellite.”

The website of the National Reconnaissance Office is: http://www.nro.gov/.

Its website states, "The NRO designs, builds and operates the nations reconnaissance satellites. NRO products, provided to an expanding list of customers like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Department of Defense (DoD), can warn of potential trouble spots around the world, help plan military operations, and monitor the environment."