NROL-18 Libra Mission Patch
Description
NROL-18 mission was nicknamed "Libra", launched on December 2, 2003, under the USA-173 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Space Launch Complex 3 (SLC-3) located In Santa Barbara County, California using the Atlas IIAS rocket. It is positioned in Low Earth orbit (LEO), 1,435 × 786 km × 63.4° . The design is based on Intruder 6A & B (Naval Ocean Surveillance System). Its function is as a Naval reconnaissance, a series of signals-intelligence satellites that have conducted electronic signals intelligence for the U.S. Navy since the early 1970s. Its current status was unknown but was able to enter outer space and do its service.
