Rocket Launches From NASA's Wallops Island Facility [VIDEO]

WALLOPS ISLAND, VA — A rocket launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore Tuesday morning. The Northrop Grumman Minotaur 1 rocket launch at 9:35 a.m. carried three classified national security payloads for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Virginia Space’s new Payload Processing Facility on Wallops Island is used for space vehicle processing and payload integration. The facility, which opened in July 2019, can accommodate national security and classified missions.

The mission, called NROL-111, is NRO’s final scheduled launch for 2021. In 2022, NRO is scheduled to start the year with two launches from New Zealand in January and February. Also in February, NROL-87 is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Three additional NRO missions are planned for later in 2022.

“NRO is the best in the world at delivering space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to more than 500,000 government users working together to keep America safe,” NRO Director Dr. Christopher Scolese said in a statement Tuesday. “NROL-111 is the 16th payload we put on orbit in 18 months to advance our mission of providing critical information to every member of the Intelligence Community, two dozen domestic agencies, our nation’s military, lawmakers, and decision makers.”

NROL-111 is the third U.S. Space Force mission from the Wallops Flight Facility and the NRO’s second dedicated launch from Wallops Island. The 69-foot-tall Minotaur I launch vehicle consists of two solid-fueled motors from decommissioned Minuteman ICBMs as the lower stages and two solid-fueled commercial solid rocket motors as upper stages.

"Today’s successful launch is another strong indication that Virginia Space is poised to capitalize on the recent exponential growth of the aerospace industry and contribute tremendous scientific and economic benefits to our Commonwealth and country," Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement Tuesday.