1 of 16
NRO's Secret NROL-36 Payload Launches
Credit: Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance
An Atlas 5 rocket ascends toward space carrying the classified NROL-36 satellite and 11 small science cubesats on Sept. 13, 2012, in a flight from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
2 of 16
Atlas 5 Rocket Lifts Off with NROL-36 Spy Satellite
Credit: Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket blasts off from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 2:39 p.m. PDT with the NROL-36 national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
3 of 16
Liftoff! Atlas 5 Launches with NROL-36 Satellite
Credit: Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket blasts off from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 2:39 p.m. PDT with the NROL-36 national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
4 of 16
Atlas 5 Rocket Launches NROL-36
Credit: United Launch Alliance
The classified NROL-36 satellite launches into orbit on a mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office on Sept. 13, 2012, after a weeks of delay. The satellite launched atop a Atlas 5 rocket in a flight staged from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
5 of 16
Atlas 5 Rocket Launches NROL-36
Credit: United Launch Alliance
An Atlas 5 rocket ascends toward space carrying the classified NROL-36 satellite and 11 small science cubesats on Sept. 13, 2012, in a flight from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
6 of 16
Rollback of Atlas V NROL-36, VAFB
Credit: Patrick H. Corkery/United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-3 with a national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
7 of 16
Rollback of Atlas V NROL-36, VAFB
Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-3 with a national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
8 of 16
Payload Section of Atlas V NROL-36
Credit: Patrick H. Corkery/United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-3 with a national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
9 of 16
NROL-36 Spy Satellite Mated to Rocket
Credit: United Launch Alliance
The National Reconnaissance Office's classified NROL-36 satellite payload, encapsulated in a 4-meter nose cone, is attached to its Atlas 5 rocket in preparation for an Aug. 2 launch from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
10 of 16
NROL-36 Spy Satellite Mission Poster
Credit: NRO/United Launch Alliance
The mission posted for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office NROL-36 mission on Aug. 2, 2012.
11 of 16
Vandenberg’s 5th Atlas V Lifts Off
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/ Lael Huss
Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-3 here Sept. 13, 2012. It was the fifth Atlas V processed at Vandenberg and the 606th Atlas mission in U.S. history.
12 of 16
Vandenberg’s 5th Atlas V Lifts Off
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Lael Huss
Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-3 here Sept. 13, 2012. It was the fifth Atlas V processed at Vandenberg and the 606th Atlas mission in U.S. history.
13 of 16
Atlas V Lifts Off
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau
Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-3 here Sept. 13, 2012. It was the fifth Atlas V processed at Vandenberg and the 606th Atlas mission in U.S. history.
14 of 16
Atlas V Launches
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau
Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-3 here Sept. 13, 2012. It was the fifth Atlas V processed at Vandenberg and the 606th Atlas mission in U.S. history.
15 of 16
United Launch Alliance Atlas 5
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau
Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-3 here Sept. 13, 2012. It was the fifth Atlas V processed at Vandenberg and the 606th Atlas mission in U.S. history.
16 of 16
Atlas V Lifts Off
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau
Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-3 here Sept. 13, 2012. It was the fifth Atlas V processed at Vandenberg and the 606th Atlas mission in U.S. history.






















