It was then scheduled to launch last night, Sept. 29, but a computer aborted the launch just 3 seconds before liftoff due to a problem in the rocket. As Live Science sister site reported, NROL-44 was originally scheduled to launch on Aug. Whatever it is, it's probably pretty heavyĪssuming all goes well, the satellite will ride a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida into orbit at 11:54 p.m. But it's a great place for intercepting radio waves from anyone the NRO wants to spy on, as Spaceflight Now reported. The 10 most dangerous space weapons everĪ geosynchronous orbit is probably too high up for high-quality imagery. Flying saucers to mind control: 22 declassified military & CIA secrets Here's every spaceship that's ever carried an astronaut into orbit Analysts believe its job is to take high-resolution pictures, as The Los Angeles Times reported.Ī geosynchronous orbit is probably too high up for high-quality imagery. An NRO satellite launched in 2013 known as USA-245, for example, orbits between 171 and 627 miles (276 and 1,010 km) in altitude on a path that takes it over the poles. Satellites that take high-resolution images of the planet tend to orbit at space station-like altitudes that way they are close enough to show clear details in images. The International Space Station, by way of contrast, orbits at about 254 miles (408 kilometers) above Earth. To remain stationary relative to the spinning planet below, a satellite must orbit about 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) above Earth - 9.2% of the way to the moon. At low orbits, satellites will circle the planet many times a day. NROL-44 will loft cargo into a geosynchronous orbit that keeps it over a particular part of the Earth at all times. This launch doesn't fit any of those profiles, however.