Description : A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket will launch the classified NROL-47 payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, operator of all American intelligence-gathering satellites and their support assets. The launch vehicle and launch site indicate NROL-47 will join the Future Imagery Architecture, flying under the code name Topaz as a radar reconnaissance satellite operating from an unusual retrograde orbit inclined 123 degrees. This will be the last flight of the Delta IV M+(5,2) version with two Solid Rocket Boosters and a five-meter second stage & payload fairing as United Launch Alliance begins to retire the single-stick Delta IV versions.

USA 3196 - picture enhanced ?

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Space Event :

N ROL 47 · DELTA IV M · VANDENBERG