ILS To Launch NRO Payload on Atlas III on February 3

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., Feb. 3/Satnews Daily/ — International Launch Services announced on Tuesday the launch on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 2:41 a.m. EST of a classified U.S. military satellite aboard Atlas III rocket.

Owned by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the security payload, designated as NROL-23, will be launched at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., Launch Complex 36, Pad B.

The launch vehicle, an Atlas III designated AC-206, was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Space Systems.

According to launch services provider, International Launch Services, this will be the first ILS mission on Atlas this year, the seventh NRO mission overall on Atlas and the sixth and final mission for Atlas III.

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