ULA successfully launches the NRO-101 mission into the Florida evening sky

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

With the telltale crackle of three GEM 63 solid rocket thrusters, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket leaped from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 41 platform this evening at 5:32 PM EST, carrying a top secret National Reconnaissance Office (NRO ) payload to the sky.

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 engines (GEM 63). Measuring 63 inches in diameter and 66 feet high, the three solid rocket engines burned for about 94 seconds, each producing 371,000 pounds of thrust – together, the three SRBs accounted for half the 1.8 million pounds of takeoff thrust.

“Thanks to our mission partners, the NRO and the United States Space Force for their continued trust and collaboration with ULA,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president for government and commercial programs. “This launch was the inaugural launch of our new GEM 63 solid rocket engines, a critical step for ULA to build flight experience in preparation for the Vulcan Centaur, our next generation launch vehicle.”

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

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

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

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

Tagged: Atlas V Northrop Grumman NROL-101 United Launch Alliance main stories

Sean Costello

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