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NROL-101 (Atlas V) 13 November 2020 |
Space Launch Complex 41 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station |
| A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched the NROL-101 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:32 p.m. on 13 November 2020. The payload is classified but is most likely an intelligence gathering satellite. The Atlas V flew with the assistance of three solid rocket boosters for the initial phase of its flight. | |
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An astounding number of birds flew across the Banana River in front of the pad. |
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Launching at sunset the rocket flew up into the light of the Sun. |
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The three solid rocket boosters separate and fall away. |
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| The two halves of the fairing that encapsulate the satellite to protect it during flight through the atmosphere separate and fall away with some associated hardware. | |
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The exhaust cloud dissipates in the wind. Note the shadow from the cloud still lit by the setting Sun. |
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