The Air Force April 10 successfully launched the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) NROL-67 satellite around 1:48 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
The launch took place on one of United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V rockets, which uses the Russian-made RD-180 as a first stage booster. The launch came after a 16-day delay due to an electrical short causing a tracking radar to overheat.
United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V launch vehicle uses the Russian RD-180 engine. Photo: Air Force.
United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V launch vehicle uses the Russian RD-180 engine. Photo: Air Force.
ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Boeing [BA]. The RD-180 is developed by NPO Energomash and is distributed in the United States by RD AMROSS, a joint venture of NPO Energomash and Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. [UTX]