The NRO launches a super-secret spy satellite that was kept hush-hush

 

In writing the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series, the CIA maintains a fleet of miniature stealth spy satellites over the Caribbean Basin. In researching the spy satellites launched by the U.S. Intelligence Community, I came across one unique launch that arose my curiosity and I included it in the PENUMBRA DATABASE spy thriller. I must tell you about it!

Over a decade ago, a super-secret spy satellite was launched atop an Atlas 5 rocket as it roared out of a Cape Canaveral launching pad at an undisclosed time. The spy satellite was hidden in the nose cone and it took off in a cloak of secrecy. A few adventurous young men were able to catch the count down and lift off on video (bottom of post). The Atlas 5 roared the super-secret spy satellite into orbit, and all we know is that it is designed to communicate with other spy satellites. The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) made sure a news blackout occurred after the launch. The NRO ordered that the rocket flight enter a news blackout shortly after liftoff from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral.

*Hint: The private video of its launch is at the bottom of this post, but you'll get more out of it if you first read the rest of the article before viewing it.

The NRO is one of America's 17 intelligence community agencies and is responsible for building and maintaining our fleet of spy satellites. It has carried out many launches in recent years, yet none were as secretive as this one. The 19-story Atlas roared skyward on nearly a million pounds of thrust. In the video, you'll witness the first stage firing off the pad for four minutes before shutting down and separating, leaving the hydrogen-fueled Centaur upper stage to light its engine and continue the push to orbit.

Centaur is designed for use as the upper stage of launch vehicles and will boost the spy satellite into final orbit. Centaur was the world's first high-energy upper stage, burning liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX). Shortly after the ignition, the no-longer-needed nose cone shrouding the payload was jettisoned.

On the video, you can hear in the background continual updates on the rocket's journey, but they all fall silent after the first stage shuts down. Why? Because this particular spy satellite is so secretive that the intelligence community wants no one to learn of the spacecraft's progress or of its success or failure. The Centaur would complete its engine burns and deployment of the top-secret payload in total secrecy.

It’s revealing and makes one think that this particular spy satellite possesses hush-hush surveillance and communication aptitudes beyond the norm, since other spy satellites are launched with much fanfare and are broadcast freely over the news media.

Further, about two hours after lift-off, rocket-maker United Launch Alliance issued a press release saying the launch ended successfully. At the same time as the press release, the spent Centaur upper stage was completing its first orbit. The rocket body was dumping residual propellant overboard, creating a stunningly bright fan-shaped cloud visible above eastern North America, with sighting reports from Louisiana to Canada. For those in the Cape Canaveral area gazing into the nighttime sky, it was a special treat after witnessing the spectacular liftoff just two hours earlier.

The NRO codenamed this Atlas rocket launch "Scorpius" and the mission logo was displayed on the rocket's nose cone featuring a scorpion with a phrase translated to mean, "Beware of Our Sting".

The spy satellite will take a Molniya-style orbit (elliptical) stretching from about 500 miles to 25,000 miles at an inclination of 63 degrees. While we're all sleeping soundly or going about our daily routine, Scorpius will activate and become a data relay satellite that intercepts and routes information from polar-orbiting photo reconnaissance spacecraft to ground receivers. The U.S. has a polar orbiting satellite that passes above both of the earth's poles on each revolution and is in a low earth orbit. The only difference is that a satellite in polar orbit travels a north-south direction, rather than the more common east-west direction.

What does this polar orbit mean? The super-secret spy satellites can view the entire planet's surface. As she orbits above us in a north-south direction, the Earth is spinning beneath in an east-west direction. The result? Our NSA bird will eventually scan the entire surface. It’s like pealing an orange in one piece. Around and around, one strip at a time, until we have incredible and detailed data on any point on Earth. The NSA bird will, literally, monitor the world stage.

The Atlas rocket ascent you see in the video is in a northeast trajectory off the launch pad. It roared above the east coast of the U.S. and is similar to earlier Atlas missions bound for a Molniya orbit. Experts say the liftoff appeared timed to intercept the orbit occupied by an aging SDS communications satellite put into orbit years ago.

Lastly, here’s the video Atlas 5 Rocket Launches Top Secret NROL 24 Satellite:

 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO), enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community, and relishes traveling to the Florida Keys and Key West, the Bahamas and Caribbean. He combines both passions in his Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thriller: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.