List of NRO launches

This is a list of NRO Launch designations for satellites operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office. Those missions are generally classified, so that their exact purposes and orbital elements are not published.
However, amateur astronomers have managed to observe most of the satellites, and leaked information has led to the identification of many of the payloads.

Launch statistics

Launch vehicle families

Launch sites

Launch history

Launch designation	Payload nickname	Satellite designation	Date/time, UTC	Launch site	Rocket	Orbit	Project	Function	Status	Patch	Remarks
L-1	Nemesis	USA-179	23:17	CCAFS, SLC-36A	Atlas IIAS	39,053 × 1,316 km × 63.7°	Quasar 15	Communications	Entered service, status unknown
L-2		USA-129	18:04	VAFB, SLC-4E	Titan IV	LEO	KH-11 12	Optical imaging	Deorbited		Reentered on 1 May 2014.
L-3		USA-133	02:32	VAFB, SLC-4E	Titan IV	679 × 666 km × 57°	Lacrosse 3	Synthetic-aperture radar	Deorbited
L-4	Oscar	USA-136	02:05	CCAFS, SLC-41	Titan IV/Centaur	36,523 × 3,849 km × 63.6°	Trumpet 3	ELINT	Entered service, status unknown
L-5	Capricorn	USA-137	18:37	CCAFS, SLC-36A	Atlas IIA	Molniya	Quasar 12	Communications	Entered service, status unknown
L-6	Jack	USA-139	01:38	CCAFS, SLC-40	Titan IV/Centaur	35,945 × 35,642 km × 8.4°	Orion 4	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-7	Elwood	N/A	11:30	CCAFS, SLC-41	Titan IV/Centaur	GSO	Mercury	ELINT	Destroyed		Rocket self-destructed 40 seconds into launch due to guidance problem.
L-8		USA-140, USA-141	10:04	VAFB, LC-576E	Taurus 1110	LEO	STEX	Technology	Entered service, status unknown		ATEX experiment jettisoned on 16 January 1999 and catalogued as USA-141.
L-9		USA-144	09:36	VAFB, SLC-4E	Titan IVB		Misty	Optical imaging	Entered service, status unknown		First Titan IV-B launch from VAFB.
L-10	Ursa Major	USA-155	02:47	CCAFS, SLC-36A	Atlas IIAS	35,854 × 35,732 km × 9.3°	Quasar 13	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-11	Onyx / Vega	USA-152	23:45	VAFB, SLC-4E	Titan IVB	695 × 689 km × 68°	Lacrosse 4	SAR	Deorbited
L-12	Aquila	USA-162	02:32	CCAFS, SLC-36B	Atlas IIAS	35,803 × 35,785 km × 10.9°	Quasar 14	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-13	Gemini	USA-160	15:25	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas IIAS	1,486 × 740 km × 63.4°	Intruder 5A & 5B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, status unknown		Two satellites.
L-14		USA-161	21:21	VAFB, SLC-4E	Titan IVB	LEO	KH-11 13	Optical reconnaissance	Deorbited		Reentered in November 2014.
L-15		USA-237	13:15	CCAFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy	35,960 × 35,628 km × 2.8°	Orion 8	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-16	Prometheus	USA-182	00:50	CCAFS, SLC-40	Titan IVB	728 × 725 km × 57.0°	Lacrosse 5	SAR	Deorbited
L-17	GeoLITE	USA-158	17:45	CCAFS, SLC-17B	Delta II 7925-9.5	GSO	GeoLITE	Technology demonstration	Retired		Boosted to graveyard orbit after end of mission. Testbed for experimental laser and UHF communications payloads.
L-18	Libra	USA-173	10:04	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas IIAS	1,435 × 786 km × 63.4°	Intruder 6A & B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, status unknown		Two satellites.
L-19	Homer	USA-171	04:29	CCAFS, SLC-40	Titan IVB-Centaur	35,995 × 35,592 km × 11.4°	Orion 5	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-20		USA-186	18:05	VAFB, SLC-4E	Titan IVB	473 × 268 km × 96.9°	KH-11 14	Optical imaging	Entered service, presumed active		Last launch of a Titan rocket.
L-21		USA-193	21:00	VAFB, SLC-2W	Delta II 7920-10	LEO	Unknown	Unknown	Destroyed		Failed on orbit immediately after launch. Destroyed by ASAT on 21 February 2008.
L-22		USA-184	03:33	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV M+	38,628 × 1,740 km × 63°	Improved Trumpet 4	ELINT	Entered service, status unknown
L-23	Canis Minor	USA-181	07:41	CCAFS, SLC-36B	Atlas IIIB	1,404 × 822 km × 63.4°	Intruder 7A & 7B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, status unknown		Two satellites.
L-24	Scorpius	USA-198	22:05	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 401	39,899 × 461 km × 63.4°	Quasar 16	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-25	Altair	USA-234	23:12	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV M+	1,112 × 1,109 km × 123°	Topaz 2	Radar imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-26		USA-202	02:47	CCAFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy	35,814 × 35,774 km × 6.1°	Orion 6	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-27	Gryphon	USA-227	23:38	CCAFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV M+	35,810 × 35,778 km × 4.6°	Quasar 17	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-28		USA-200	10:02	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 411	38,009 × 2,362 km × 63.2°	Improved Trumpet 5	ELINT	Entered service, status unknown
L-29		N/A		VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 521				Canceled
L-30	Pyxis	USA-194	15:12	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 401	1,347 × 879 km × 63.4°	Intruder 8A & 8B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, presumed active		Two satellites. Premature 2nd stage cutoff during launch. Lifetime reduced by need to correct orbit.
L-32		USA-223	22:58	CCAFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy	35,979 × 35,609 km × 4.6°	Orion 7	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-33		USA-252	13:09	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 401	35,810 × 35,778 km × 2.7°	Quasar 19	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-34	Odin	USA-229	04:24	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 411	1,261 × 965 km × 63.4°	Intruder 9A & 9B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, presumed active		Two satellites.
L-35	Jacquelyn	USA-259	03:19	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 541	39,083 × 1,286 km × 63.4°	Trumpet 6	ELINT	Entered service, presumed active		First flight of the RL10C-1 rocket engine, used by the Centaur upper stage
L-36		USA-238	21:39	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 401	1,225 × 1,001 km × 63.4°	Intruder 10A & 10B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, presumed active		Two satellites sharing a designation.
L-37		USA-268	17:51	CCAFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy	35,993 × 35,594 km × 6.5°	Orion 9	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active		Likely the seventh so called Mentor/Orion satellite for the National Security Agency.
L-38	Drake	USA-236	12:28	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 401	35,815 × 35,773 km × 3.1°	Quasar 18	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-39		USA-247	07:14	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 501	1,113 × 1,109 km × 123°	Topaz 3	Radar imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-41	Gladys	USA-215	04:03	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 501	1,112 × 1,109 km × 123°	Topaz 1	Radar imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-42		USA-278	05:49:47	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 541	39,230 × 1,138 km × 63.6°	Trumpet 7	ELINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-44		USA-311	01:09	CCSFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy	35,992 × 35,596 km × 7.6°	Orion 10	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-45		USA-267	11:40	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV M+	1,115 × 1,106 km × 123°	Topaz 4	Radar imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-47		USA-281	22:11	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV M+	1,088 × 1,085 km × 106°	Topaz 5	Radar imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-48		USA-558 - USA-565	17:38	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	425 × 310 km × 69.7° LEO	Starshield		Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 11 Starshield satellites.
L-49	Betty	USA-224	21:10	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV Heavy	1,003 × 262 km × 97.9°	KH-11 15	Optical imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-52		USA-279	07:28	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 421	35,810 × 35,778 km × 3.2°	Quasar 21	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-55		USA-264	12:49	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 401	1,150 × 1,076 km × 63.4°	Intruder 11A & 11B	Naval reconnisance	Entered service, presumed active		Two classified satellites and 13 CubeSats.
L-56		-	NLT	CCSFS, SLC-41	Vulcan Centaur				Awaiting launch
L-57		USA-487 - USA-497	06:49	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	425 × 310 km × 69.7° LEO	Starshield		Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 11 Starshield satellites.
L-61	Spike	USA-269	12:37	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 421	35,808 × 35,779 km × 2.8°	Quasar 20	Communications	Entered service, presumed active
L-64		-	NET	CCSFS, SLC-41	Vulcan Centaur				Awaiting launch
L-65		USA-245	18:03	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV Heavy	991 × 275 km × 97.9°	KH-11 16	Optical imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-66		USA-225	12:26	VAFB, SLC-8	Minotaur I	1,232 × 1,214 km × 90.1°	RPP	Technology	Entered service, status unknown
L-67		USA-250	17:45	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 541	35,811 × 35,777 km × 1.4°	SIGINT High Altitude Replenishment Program	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-68		USA-345	09:18	CCSFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy		Orion 11	SIGINT	Entered service, presumed active
L-69		USA-498	17:48	CCSFS, SLC-40	Falcon 9 Block 5		NOSS	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, presumed active		Two classified satellites sharing a designation.
L-70		-		CCSFS, SLC-37B	Delta IV Heavy		Orion 12	SIGINT	Entered service, status unknown		Last launch of Delta family.
L-71		USA-290	19:05	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV Heavy	423 × 406 km × 73.6°	KH-11 17	Optical imaging	Entered service, presumed active
L-73		-	NLT	VSFB, SLC-3E	Vulcan Centaur				Awaiting launch
L-76		USA-276	11:15	KSC, LC-39A	Falcon 9 Full Thrust	393 × 393 km × 50.0°			Entered service, presumed active		First NRO launch on SpaceX's Falcon 9 and first NRO launch from Kennedy Space Center. Originally intended to launch from SLC-40, but was moved to LC-39A following the AMOS-6 preclusion.
L-77		USA-570	19:16	CCSFS, SLC-40	Falcon 9 Block 5		NOSS	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, presumed active
L-79		USA-274	17:50	VAFB, SLC-3E	Atlas V 401	1,119 × 1,107 km × 63.4°	Intruder 12A & 12B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, presumed active		Two classified satellites sharing a designation.
L-82		USA-314	20:47	VAFB, SLC-6	Delta IV Heavy	794 × 535 km × 98.1°	KH-11 18	Electro-optical surveillance	Entered service, presumed active
L-83		-	NET	VSFB, SLC-3E	Vulcan Centaur				Awaiting launch
L-85		USA-327	13:13	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO 63°	Intruder 13A & 13B	Naval reconnaissance	Entered service, presumed active
L-86		-	NLT	KSC, LC-39A	Falcon Heavy				Awaiting launch
L-87		USA-326	20:27	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	SSO			Entered service, presumed active
L-88		-	NLT	CCSFS, SLC-41	Vulcan Centaur				Awaiting launch
L-91		USA-338	22:25	VSFB, SLC-6	Delta IV Heavy	LEO	KH-11 19	Electro-optical surveillance	Entered service, presumed active
L-96		-	NET	VSFB, SLC-4E or SLC-6	Falcon 9 Block 5				Awaiting launch
L-97		-	NET	KSC, LC-39A	Falcon Heavy				Awaiting launch		Slated to be the first NRO launch on a Falcon Heavy.
L-100		-	NLT	VSFB, SLC-3E	Vulcan Centaur				Awaiting launch
L-101		USA-310	22:32	CCAFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 531	11105 × 11081 km × 58.5°			Entered service, presumed active
L-105		USA-572 - USA-573	04:39	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO	Starshield		Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 2 Starshield satellites.
L-107		USA-346 USA-347 USA-348	12:47	CCSFS, SLC-41	Atlas V 551	GSO 42464 × 41864 km × 0°	Silentbarker	Situational awareness	Entered service, presumed active		Three satellites
L-108		USA-312 USA-313	14:00	KSC, LC-39A	Falcon 9 Block 5	540 × 528 km × 53°			Entered service, presumed active		Two satellites, possibly SpaceX Starshield prototypes.
L-109		-	NLT	CCAFS, SLC-41	Vulcan Centaur				Awaiting launch
L-111		USA-316 USA-317 USA-318	13:35 UTC	MARS, LP-0B	Minotaur I			Technology	Entered service, presumed active		Three satellites.
L-113		USA-400 - USA-420	03:20	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO	Starshield		Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 21 Starshield satellites.
L-118		-	NLT	CCAFS, SLC-41	Vulcan Centaur	GSO	Silentbarker	Situational awareness	Awaiting launch
L-123		USA-352 MOLA Aerocube 16A Aerocube 16B	07:25 UTC	MARS, LP-0C	Electron	LEO		Technology	Entered service, presumed active		RASR-5. Four satellites. First NRO launch on an Electron from Wallops, VA.
L-126		USA 438, USA 339	8:10	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO	Starshield		Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 2 Starshield satellites with 20 Starlink Group N-01 satellites..
L-129		USA-305 USA-306 USA-307 USA-308	13:46 UTC	MARS, LP-0B	Minotaur IV / Orion 38	580 × 574 km × 54.0°			Entered service, presumed active		Four payloads. First NRO launch on a Minotaur IV and first from Virginia's Space Coast.
L-145		USA-523 - USA-544	12:29	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO	Starshield		Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 22 Starshield satellites. First NRO Proliferated Architecture Mission launch in partnership with USSF under the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contract.
L-146		USA-354 - USA-374	08:00	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	425 × 310 km × 69.7° LEO	Starshield		Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 21 Starshield satellites.
L-149		USA-441 - USA-462	13:19	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	425 × 310 km × 69.7° LEO	Starshield		Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 22 Starshield satellites.
L-151	Deep Dive	USA-294	02:56	Mahia, LC-1A	Electron	594 × 586 km × 70.0°		Technology	Entered service, presumed active		First Rocket Lab Electron launch, first launch from outside the United States, and first launch procured under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket program. Flew on Rocket Lab's "Birds of a Feather" mission.
L-153		USA-463 - USA-483	03:53	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	425 × 310 km × 69.7° LEO	Starshield		Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 21 Starshield satellites.
L-157		-	NET	VSFB, SLC-4E or SLC-6	Falcon 9 Block 5				Awaiting launch
L-162		USA-334	06:30	Mahia, LC-1A	Electron				Entered service, presumed active		RASR-3. Back-to-back launch under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket program.
L-167		USA-421 - USA-437	17:13	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO	Starshield		Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 17 Starshield satellites.
L-174		USA-521 - USA-522	19:33	VSFB, SLC-8	Minotaur IV / Orion 38	LEO			Entered service, presumed active
L-186		USA-375 - USA-395	03:14	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO	Starshield		Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 21 Starshield satellites.
L-192		USA-499 - USA-520	12:25	VSFB, SLC-4E	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO	Starshield		Entered service, presumed active		NRO's Proliferated Architecture Mission of 22 Starshield satellites.
L-199		USA-335	05:00	Mahia, LC-1B	Electron				Entered service, presumed active		RASR-4. Back-to-back launch under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket program.
RASR-2		USA-301 USA-302 USA-303	05:12	Mahia, LC-1A	Electron				Entered service, presumed active		Three technology demonstration smallsats. Primary customer of the rideshare mission procured under NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket program. Flew on Rocket Lab's "Don't Stop Me Now" mission.
Undesignated		IMPACT-2A and IMPACT-2B	13:59:47	MARS, LP-0A	Antares			Technology demonstration	Entered service, presumed active		Two technology demonstration CubeSats launched as part of the NRO's IMPACT program. Secondary payloads, launched with Cygnus NG-12.
Launch designation	Launch name	Satellite designation	Launch date/time	Launch site	Rocket	Orbit	Project	Function	Status	Patch	Remarks