ULA successfully launches NRO-101 mission into evening Florida sky

1.8 million pounds of thrust lifts the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and NROL-101 payload off the pad at Space Launch Complex 41, Friday November 13, 2020. Photo: Matt Haskell, Spaceflight Insider

With the tell-tale crackle of three GEM 63 solid rocket boosters, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket leapt from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 41 pad at 5:32 p.m. EST this evening, carrying a top-secret National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payload skyward.

Illustration of the Atlas V rocket used to launch the NROL-101 mission today. Credit: United Launch Alliance

Today’s mission marked the first flight of Northrop Grumman‘s new 63 Inch Graphite Epoxy Motors (GEM 63). Measuring 63 inches in diameter and standing 66 feet tall, the three solid rocket motors burned for approximately 94 seconds, each producing 371,000 pounds of thrust – together, the three SRBs amounted to half of the 1.8 million pounds of thrust at lifoff.

“Thank you to our mission partners, the NRO and the United States Space Force for their continued confidence and partnership with ULA,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “This launch was the inaugural launch of our new GEM 63 solid rocket motors, an instrumental step for ULA to build flight experience in preparation for the Vulcan Centaur, our next generation launch vehicle.”

Following SRB burnout and jettison, the United Launch Alliance rocket continued to accelerate toward the planned orbital insertion under the power of the RD-180 first stage engine.

This was ULA’s 141st launch, their 29th for the National Reconnaissance Office. Specific to the Atlas V rocket type, this was ULA’s 86th launch and the 71^st Atlas V to launch from Space Launch Complex-41 in Florida.

United Launch Alliance successfully launched the NROL-101 payload atop an Atlas V rocket, November 13, 2020. Photo: Theresa Cross, Spaceflight Insider

1.8 million pounds of thrust lifts the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and NROL-101 payload off the pad at Space Launch Complex 41, Friday November 13, 2020. Photo: Matt Haskell, Spaceflight Insider

Tagged: Atlas V Lead Stories Northrop Grumman NROL-101 United Launch Alliance

Sean Costello

Sean Costello is a technology professional who also researches, writes about and speaks publicly on the inspiring lessons within international space flight program. Prior to joining SpaceFlight Insider in early 2014, Costello was a freelance photographer and correspondent covering shuttle-era Kennedy Space Center launches for various radio and print news organizations.