NROL-39

NROL-39

Satellite Designation: USA-247

Launch Date: December 6, 2013

Launch Site:  Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 3E 

Rocket:  United Launch Alliance Atlas V 501

Orbit:  Low Earth 

Project: Topaz, Future Imagine Architecture (FIA)

Function:  Mostly Classified.  Boeing Radar Imaging

Notes:  NRO Director Bruce Carlson described FIA (of which NROL-39 was a part) as being “Seven hundred percent over in schedule and 300 percent over in budget.”  The total cost is beyond $25,000,000,000.00.

Further reading on The Octopus, Danny Casolaro