It seems someone at the National Reconnaissance Office is into Tolkien.
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is set to send a National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite into orbit from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, after being pushed back from a planned Election Day launch.
Though information about NRO launches is always a little scarce for obvious reasons, this one looks to be relatively routine, except for the baffling mission artwork that includes a phrase in... Elvish?
The poster for the mission, which is officially called NROL-101, sports a pretty clear Lord of the Rings theme, featuring a pair of interlocking golden rings and the phrase "goodness persists" written in both English and Elvish Tengwar script, the fictional language dreamed up entirely by author J.R.R. Tolkien himself.
A United Launch Alliance spokesperson told me the artwork and theme came from NRO, which declined to explain the reference to Middle Earth.
It's not unusual for NRO to pick a quotable phrase and theme for its mission posters. Usually they involve some phrase in Latin and some sort of mythic character like a Pegasus or Thor.
But we'll likely never know the details about this bewildering theme, just as we'll probably never know the specs of the satellite being launched.
Liftoff was originally set for Tuesday, but it was postponed because of a technical issue. It's now planned for 2:54 p.m. PT (5:54 p.m. Florida time) and will be streamed live via the feed below:
Latest Stories
-
‘We are not against Gold for Oil policy but its skewed implementation’ – CBOD CEO
42 mins -
Yacht sinks after being rammed by orcas in Strait of Gibraltar
2 hours -
Africa’s internet vulnerability and how to fix it
2 hours -
Nobel laureate’s death to be re-examined in South Africa
2 hours -
Trump’s lawyer attacks Michael Cohen in hush-money trial
2 hours -
Arrest made after eight killed in Florida farmworker bus crash
2 hours -
Chief Justice’s panel in Opuni’s appeal aligns with 1992 Constitution, says AG
2 hours -
Giroud to join Los Angeles FC in MLS in summer
3 hours -
Why Lil Win is no longer contesting to be MP
3 hours -
‘Foundations really fragile’ at Spurs – Postecoglou
3 hours -
Bellingham scores 19th goal as Real Madrid thrash Alaves
3 hours -
Aston Villa reach Champions League for first time
3 hours -
Stevie on the Wonder of becoming a Ghanaian citizen
3 hours -
Man City on the brink of EPL title after Haaland double sinks Spurs
3 hours -
Lil Win reveals challenges with Ghanaian actor led to casting Ramsey Nouah in new film
3 hours