US to Launch Secret Spy Satellite Saturday

Space.com ^ | January 16, 2019 05:17pm ET | Mike Wall,

[BenLurkin]

The NROL-71 spacecraft is scheduled to launch atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on Saturday (Jan. 19) at 2:05 p.m. EST (1905 GMT; 11:05 a.m. local California time), ULA representatives announced yesterday (Jan. 15).

ULA had originally targeted early December for NROL-71's liftoff, but bad weather and technical issues pushed the launch back multiple times. The most recent attempt, on Dec. 19, was nixed because of a slight hydrogen leak on the Delta IV Heavy — an issue that has taken several weeks to resolve.

NROL-71 will be operated by the NRO, which manages the United States' fleet of spy satellites. The activities of such spacecraft are generally classified, and NROL-71 is no different. Government officials have not disclosed details about the satellite's mission, and ULA is expected to end its launch webcast about 6 minutes after liftoff to help preserve secrecy.

[csvset]

The other tag, all I can make out is the letter D along with what appears to be a stem of another obscured letter. Is the other letter a T for Trump ? 😆

[EveningStar]

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[minnesota_bound]

Sssh! don’t tell anyone.

[Yaelle]

Shhhhhhh

Be vewy vewy quiet.