NRO Launches

NRO Launches

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is responsible for designing, building, launching, and maintaining the United States' intelligence satellites. These satellites provide critical information to the US military and intelligence agencies, helping to keep the country safe.

As part of their mission, the NRO designs unique and highly collectible launch patch designs. These patches commemorate the launch of specific NRO missions and often feature intricate designs that incorporate elements of the mission's purpose or location.

Each NRO launch patch is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the men and women who make these missions possible. They are highly sought after by collectors and space enthusiasts alike, as they represent not only the technological achievements of the NRO but also the important role they play in keeping the US safe and secure.

If you're a collector or simply a fan of space exploration, be sure to vote for all of your favorites here. They are and will be a unique and fascinating part of our nation's space history.

  • Atlas V rocket on NRO launch L-28 Patch Atlas V rocket on NRO launch L-28 Patch

    Atlas V rocket on NRO launch L-28 Patch

    Following the Trumpet program, another program with somewhat smaller satellites but identical orbits was launched. On March 13, 2008, they resumed the reptile theme with the launch of an Atlas V rocket on NRO launch L-28 from Vandenberg Air Force Base...
  • NROL-1 Nemesis Mission Patch NROL-1 Nemesis Mission Patch

    NROL-1 Nemesis Mission Patch

    NROL-1 Mission was nicknamed "Nemesis" with the satellite designation USA-179. This launch happened August 31st of 2004 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 36A (SLC-36A) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County,...
  • NROL-2 Mission Patch

    NROL-2 Mission Patch

    NROL-2 mission was launched on December 20, 1996 under USA-129 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) located in Santa Barbara County, California, using the Titan IV rocket. It is positioned...
  • NROL-3 Mission Patch

    NROL-3 Mission Patch

    NROL-3 mission was launched on October 24, 1997, under USA-133 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) in Santa Barbara County, California, using the Titan IV rocket. It is positioned in Low...
  • NROL-4 Oscar Mission Patch NROL-4 Oscar Mission Patch

    NROL-4 Oscar Mission Patch

    NROL-4 mission was nicknamed "Oscar", launched on November 8, 1997, under USA-136 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) located In Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida using...
  • NROL-5 Capricorn Mission Patch NROL-5 Capricorn Mission Patch

    NROL-5 Capricorn Mission Patch

    NROL-5 mission was nicknamed "Capricorn", launched on January 29, 1998, under USA-137 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 36 (SLC-36A) located in Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida...
  • NROL-6 Jack Mission Patch NROL-6 Jack Mission Patch

    NROL-6 Jack Mission Patch

    NROL-6 mission was nicknamed "Jack", launched on May 9, 1998, under USA-139 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) located In Cape Canaveral at the north end of Cape...
  • NROL-7 Elwood Mission Patch

    NROL-7 Elwood Mission Patch

    NROL-7 mission was nicknamed "Elwood", launched on August 12, 1998. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida using the Titan...
  • NROL-8 Mission Patch NROL-8 Mission Patch

    NROL-8 Mission Patch

    NROL-8 mission was launched on October 3, 1998, under USA-140, 141 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VAFB), Vandenberg Launch Complex 576 (LC-576E) in Santa Barbara County, California using the Taurus 1110 rocket. It is...
  • NROL-9 Mission Patch NROL-9 Mission Patch

    NROL-9 Mission Patch

    NROL-9 mission was launched on May 22, 1999, under USA-144 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VAFB), Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4E) in Santa Barbara County, California using the Titan IVB rocket. The design is...
  • NROL-10 Ursa Major Mission Patch NROL-10 Ursa Major Mission Patch

    NROL-10 Ursa Major Mission Patch

    NROL-10 mission was nicknamed "Ursa Major or Great Bear", launched on December 6, 2000, under the USA-155 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 36 (SLC-36) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard...
  • NROL-11 Onyx Mission Patch NROL-11 Onyx Mission Patch

    NROL-11 Onyx Mission Patch

    NROL-11 mission was nicknamed "Onyx/Vega", launched on August 17, 2000, under the USA-152 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VAFB), Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4E) located in Santa Barbara County, California using...
  • NROL-12 Aquila Mission Patch NROL-12 Aquila Mission Patch

    NROL-12 Aquila Mission Patch

    NROL-12 mission was nicknamed "Aquila", launched on October 11, 2001, under the USA-162 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 36 (SLC-36B) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida...
  • NROL-13 Gemini Mission Patch NROL-13 Gemini Mission Patch

    NROL-13 Gemini Mission Patch

    NROL-13 mission was nicknamed "Gemini", launched on September 8, 2001, under the USA-160 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 (SLC-3E) located in Santa Barbara County, California using...
  • NROL-14 Mission Patch NROL-14 Mission Patch

    NROL-14 Mission Patch

    NROL-14 mission was launched on October 5, 2001, under the USA-161 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-3E) located in Santa Barbara County, California using the Titan IVB rocket. It...
  • NROL-15 Mission Patch NROL-15 Mission Patch

    NROL-15 Mission Patch

    NROL-15 mission was launched on June 29, 2012, under the USA-237 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37B) located in Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida using the Delta IV Heavy...
  • NROL-16 Prometheus Mission Patch NROL-16 Prometheus Mission Patch

    NROL-16 Prometheus Mission Patch

    NROL-16 mission was nicknamed "Prometheus", launched on April 30, 2005, under the USA-182 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida...
  • NROL-17 GeoLite Mission Patch NROL-17 GeoLite Mission Patch

    NROL-17 GeoLite Mission Patch

    NROL-17 mission was nicknamed "GeoLITE", launched on MAY 18, 2001, under the USA-158 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 17 (SLC-17B) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida...
  • NROL-18 Libra Mission Patch NROL-18 Libra Mission Patch

    NROL-18 Libra Mission Patch

    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...
  • NROL-19 Homer Mission Patch NROL-19 Homer Mission Patch

    NROL-19 Homer Mission Patch

    NROL-19 mission was nicknamed "Homer", launched on September 9, 2003, under the USA-171 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) located In Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida...
  • NROL-20 Mission Patch NROL-20 Mission Patch

    NROL-20 Mission Patch

    NROL-20 mission was launched on October 19, 2005, under the USA-186 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) located In Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida using the Titan IVB-Centaur...
  • NROL-21 Mission Patch NROL-21 Mission Patch

    NROL-21 Mission Patch

    NROL-21 mission was launched on December 14, 2006, under the USA-193 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2W) located In Santa Barbara County, California using the Delta II 7920-10 rocket. It...
  • NROL-22 Mission Patch NROL-22 Mission Patch

    NROL-22 Mission Patch

    NROL-22 mission was launched on June 28, 2006, under the USA-184 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) located In Santa Barbara County, California using the Delta IV M+ rocket. It is...
  • NROL-23 Mission Patch NROL-23 Mission Patch

    NROL-23 Mission Patch

    NROL-23 mission was nicknamed "Canis Minor", launched on February 3, 2005, under the USA-181 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 36 (SLC-36B) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County,...
  • NROL-24 Mission Patch NROL-24 Mission Patch

    NROL-24 Mission Patch

    NROL-24 mission was nicknamed "Scorpius", launched on December 10, 2007, under the USA-198 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida...
  • NROL-25 Mission Patch NROL-25 Mission Patch

    NROL-25 Mission Patch

    NROL-25 mission was nicknamed "Altair", launched on April 3, 2012, under the USA-234 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) located In Santa Barbara County, California using the Delta IV...
  • NROL-26 Mission Patch NROL-26 Mission Patch

    NROL-26 Mission Patch

    NROL-26 mission was launched on January 18, 2009, under the USA-202 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 37B (SLC-37B) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida using the Delta IV...
  • NROL-27 Mission Patch NROL-27 Mission Patch

    NROL-27 Mission Patch

    NROL-27 mission was nicknamed "Gryphon", launched on March 11, 2011, under the USA-227 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 37B (SLC-37B) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida...
  • NROL-28 Mission Patch NROL-28 Mission Patch

    NROL-28 Mission Patch

    NROL-28 mission was launched on March 13, 2008, under the USA-200 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Space Launch Complex 3E (SLC-3E) located In Santa Barbara County, California using the Atlas V 411 rocket. It is...
  • NROL-29 Mission Patch

    NROL-29 Mission Patch

    NROL-29 mission happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Space Launch Complex 3E (SLC-3E) located In Santa Barbara County, California using the Atlas V rocket. Its current status was canceled.
  • NROL-30 Mission Patch NROL-30 Mission Patch

    NROL-30 Mission Patch

    NROL-30 mission was nicknamed "Pyxis", launched on June 15, 2007, under the USA-194 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida using...
  • NROL-32 Mission Patch NROL-32 Mission Patch

    NROL-32 Mission Patch

    NROL-32 mission was launched on November 21, 2010, under the USA-223 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 37B (SLC-37B) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida using the Delta IV...
  • NROL-33 Mission Patch NROL-33 Mission Patch

    NROL-33 Mission Patch

    NROL-33 mission was launched on May 22, 2014, under the USA-252 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida using the Atas V 401...
  • NROL-34 Mission Patch NROL-34 Mission Patch

    NROL-34 Mission Patch

    NROL-34 mission was nicknamed "Odin", launched on April 15, 2011, under the USA-229 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Space Launch Complex 3E (SLC-3E) located In Santa Barbara County, California using the Atlas V 411...
  • NROL-35 Mission Patch NROL-35 Mission Patch

    NROL-35 Mission Patch

    NROL-35 mission was nicknamed "Jacquelyn", launched on December 13, 2014, under the USA-259 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Space Launch Complex 3E (SLC-3E) located In Santa Barbara County, California using the Atlas...
  • NROL-36 Mission Patch NROL-36 Mission Patch

    NROL-36 Mission Patch

    NROL-36 mission was launched on September 13, 2012, under the USA-238 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Space Launch Complex 3E (SLC-3E) located In Santa Barbara County, California using the Atlas V 401 rocket. It is...
  • NROL-37 Mission Patch NROL-37 Mission Patch

    NROL-37 Mission Patch

    NROL-37 mission was launched on June 11, 2016, under the USA-268 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 37B (SLC-37B) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida using the Delta IV...
  • NROL-38 Mission Patch NROL-38 Mission Patch

    NROL-38 Mission Patch

    NROL-38 mission was nicknamed "Drake", launched on June 20, 2012, under the USA-236 satellite. The launch happened in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida using...
  • NROL-39 Mission Patch NROL-39 Mission Patch

    NROL-39 Mission Patch

    NROL-39 mission was launched on December 6, 2013, under the USA-247 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Space Launch Complex 3E (SLC-3E) located In Santa Barbara County, California using the Atlas V 501 rocket. It is...
  • NROL-41 Mission Patch NROL-41 Mission Patch

    NROL-41 Mission Patch

    NROL-41 mission was nicknamed "Gladys", launched on September 21, 2010, under the USA-215 satellite. The launch happened in Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Space Launch Complex 3E (SLC-3E) located In Santa Barbara County, California using the Atlas V...